RUSC vs SCDS
Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF vs JPMorgan Fundamental Data Science Small Core ETF
Which is better, RUSC or SCDS?
Nearly the same fund. SCDS costs less.
SCDS has a lower expense ratio. SCDS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. RUSC is less concentrated, with 5.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 12.9%.
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 | RUSC | SCDS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.40%Best |
| AUM | $81M | $9M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 1.12% |
| Holdings | 491 | 279 |
| YTD Return | +13.09% | +17.38%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.59% | +21.08%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.8% | -9.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $13,328 | $13,782Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.2%Best | 12.9% |
| Fund Family | Russell Investments | J.P. Morgan Asset Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 13, 2025 | Aug 7, 2024 |
Not shown on this pair: 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.4 years).
RUSC vs SCDS 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
RUSC vs SCDS Performance
Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF (RUSC) is an ETF from Russell Investments and JPMorgan Fundamental Data Science Small Core ETF (SCDS) is an ETF from J.P. Morgan Asset Management. Over the past year RUSC returned +17.59% while SCDS returned +21.08%. Year to date, RUSC is up 13.09% versus a gain of 17.38% for SCDS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RUSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 15.2% for SCDS. 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 -9.8% for RUSC and -9.3% for SCDS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RUSC charges 0.64% per year while SCDS charges 0.40%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $40 annually, a gap of $24 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RUSC currently yields 0.33% against 1.12% for SCDS.
Holdings Overlap
17.6% of RUSC's money is in holdings SCDS also owns. 27.4% of SCDS's money is in holdings RUSC also owns.
SCDS and RUSC share little of their money.
75 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 274 in SCDS, against full books of 491 and 279.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 187 positions for SCDS that do not appear in our book for RUSC (69.5% of the fund), and 306 for RUSC that do not appear in SCDS (60.4%).
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 RUSC | Weight in SCDS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TWSTTwist Bioscience Corp. | 0.30% | 1.36% | 1.06% |
| PTGXProtagonist Therapeutics Inc | 0.36% | 0.69% | 0.33% |
| AZZAzz Inc | 0.16% | 0.87% | 0.71% |
| UTZUtz Brands, Inc. | 0.52% | 0.46% | 0.06% |
| WTTRSelect Energy Services Inc | 0.61% | 0.29% | 0.32% |
| CPKChesapeake Utilities Corp | 0.25% | 0.63% | 0.38% |
| DOCNDigitalocean Holdings Inc | 0.22% | 0.62% | 0.40% |
| WHDCactus Inc | 0.21% | 0.63% | 0.42% |
| TCBKTrico Bancshares | 0.15% | 0.68% | 0.53% |
| HQYHealthequity Inc | 0.28% | 0.54% | 0.26% |
27.4% of SCDS is already inside RUSC.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, RUSC or SCDS?
RUSC has an expense ratio of 0.64% while SCDS charges 0.40%. SCDS is the cheaper option, by $24 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RUSC or SCDS?
Over the past year RUSC returned +17.59% vs +21.08% for SCDS, so SCDS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RUSC annualized +22.78% vs +25.75% for SCDS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RUSC or SCDS?
RUSC has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 15.2% for SCDS. Worst drawdown: RUSC -9.8% vs SCDS -9.3%.
Should I hold both RUSC and SCDS?
RUSC and SCDS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, 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 RUSC and SCDS?
27.4% of SCDS's money is in holdings RUSC also owns. 27.4% of SCDS's is in holdings RUSC also owns. They hold 75 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 274 in SCDS.
Which pays a higher dividend, RUSC or SCDS?
RUSC yields 0.33% while SCDS yields 1.12%, so SCDS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SCDS better than RUSC?
SCDS has a lower expense ratio. SCDS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. RUSC is less concentrated, with 5.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 12.9%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.