BAFE vs CGUS
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF vs Capital Group Core Equity ETF
Which is better, BAFE or CGUS?
CGUS has been ahead.
CGUS has a lower expense ratio. CGUS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. CGUS is less concentrated, with 43.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.4%.
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 | BAFE | CGUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54% | 0.33%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $12.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.27% | 0.83% |
| Holdings | 90 | 75 |
| YTD Return | +9.97% | +11.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.65% | +15.39%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.76% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2% | 12.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4% | -18.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $12,035 | $13,149Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 45.4% | 43.8%Best |
| Fund Family | Brown Advisory | Capital Group (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2024 | Feb 22, 2022 |
Not shown on this pair: 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 18, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.9 years).
BAFE vs CGUS 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 covers the 1.9 years both funds cover.
BAFE vs CGUS Performance
Brown Advisory Flexible Equity ETF (BAFE) is an ETF from Brown Advisory and Capital Group Core Equity ETF (CGUS) is an ETF from Capital Group (US). Over the past year BAFE returned +12.65% while CGUS returned +15.39%. Year to date, BAFE is up 9.97% versus a gain of 11.95% for CGUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BAFE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% compared with 12.5% for CGUS. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -18.4% for BAFE and -18.1% for CGUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.93. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BAFE charges 0.54% per year while CGUS charges 0.33%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $33 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BAFE currently yields 0.27% against 0.83% for CGUS.
Holdings Overlap
53.3% of BAFE's money is in holdings CGUS also owns. 40.8% of CGUS's money is in holdings BAFE also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
15 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in BAFE and 68 in CGUS, against full books of 90 and 75.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 45 positions for CGUS that do not appear in our book for BAFE (51.5% of the fund), and 23 for BAFE that do not appear in CGUS (37.3%).
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 BAFE | Weight in CGUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.49% | 7.05% | 0.56% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.84% | 7.90% | 4.06% |
| 2330:TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 7.75% | 2.84% | 4.91% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 4.42% | 4.75% | 0.33% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 4.60% | 4.55% | 0.05% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.72% | 3.14% | 0.58% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 3.54% | 1.89% | 1.65% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 3.73% | 1.62% | 2.11% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 4.22% | 0.69% | 3.53% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 1.90% | 2.53% | 0.63% |
53.3% of BAFE is already inside CGUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BAFE or CGUS?
BAFE has an expense ratio of 0.54% while CGUS charges 0.33%. CGUS is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BAFE or CGUS?
Over the past year BAFE returned +12.65% vs +15.39% for CGUS, so CGUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BAFE annualized +10.24% vs +15.50% for CGUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BAFE or CGUS?
BAFE has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 12.5% for CGUS. Worst drawdown: BAFE -18.4% vs CGUS -18.1%.
Should I hold both BAFE and CGUS?
BAFE and CGUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.93, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between BAFE and CGUS?
53.3% of BAFE's money is in holdings CGUS also owns. 40.8% of CGUS's is in holdings BAFE also owns. They hold 15 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in BAFE and 68 in CGUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, BAFE or CGUS?
BAFE yields 0.27% while CGUS yields 0.83%, so CGUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is CGUS better than BAFE?
CGUS has a lower expense ratio. CGUS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.93. CGUS is less concentrated, with 43.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 45.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.