AFSM vs TSEE
First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF vs T. Rowe Price Small-Cap ETF
Which is better, AFSM or TSEE?
TSEE costs less.
TSEE has a lower expense ratio. AFSM is less concentrated, with 8.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 14.7%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AFSM | TSEE |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.59%Best |
| AUM | $130M | $10M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.52% | 0.00% |
| Holdings | 657 | 220 |
| YTD Return | +19.57%Best | -4.78% |
| 1Y Return | +23.10% | - |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.42% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.06% | - |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.4%Best | 14.7% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | T.Rowe Price |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 4, 2019 | Sep 16, 2026 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AFSM vs TSEE growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AFSM vs TSEE Performance
First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and T. Rowe Price Small-Cap ETF (TSEE) is an ETF from T.Rowe Price. Year to date, AFSM is up 19.57% versus a loss of 4.78% for TSEE.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AFSM charges 0.75% per year while TSEE charges 0.59%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $59 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AFSM currently yields 0.52% against 0.00% for TSEE.
Holdings Overlap
7.0% of AFSM's money is in holdings TSEE also owns. 9.0% of TSEE's money is in holdings AFSM also owns.
TSEE and AFSM share little of their money.
21 positions in common, counted across the 321 positions we hold weights for in AFSM and 220 in TSEE, against full books of 657 and 220.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 179 positions for TSEE that do not appear in our book for AFSM (81.5% of the fund), and 280 for AFSM that do not appear in TSEE (85.8%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AFSM | Weight in TSEE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BTSGBrightspring Health | 0.56% | 1.30% | 0.74% |
| ATEXAnterix Inc | 0.49% | 1.08% | 0.59% |
| MSGSMadison Square Garden Co/the | 0.47% | 1.09% | 0.62% |
| BELFBBel Fuse Inc Class B | 0.60% | 0.36% | 0.24% |
| TWSTTwist Bioscience Corp. | 0.47% | 0.43% | 0.04% |
| TXG10x Genomics Inc Com Usd 1 Cl A | 0.52% | 0.37% | 0.15% |
| SPHRThe Madison Square Garden Company - Class A | 0.61% | 0.12% | 0.49% |
| ADPTAdaptive Biotechnologies Corp | 0.29% | 0.41% | 0.12% |
| TVTXTravere Therapeutics Inc | 0.32% | 0.34% | 0.02% |
| ORKAOruka Therapeutics Inc Orka | 0.35% | 0.31% | 0.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AFSM and TSEE you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AFSM or TSEE?
AFSM has an expense ratio of 0.75% while TSEE charges 0.59%. TSEE is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AFSM and TSEE?
9.0% of TSEE's money is in holdings AFSM also owns. 9.0% of TSEE's is in holdings AFSM also owns. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 321 positions we hold weights for in AFSM and 220 in TSEE.
Which pays a higher dividend, AFSM or TSEE?
AFSM yields 0.52% while TSEE yields 0.00%, so AFSM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is TSEE better than AFSM?
TSEE has a lower expense ratio. AFSM is less concentrated, with 8.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 14.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.