Alpha Architect US Equity 2 ETF (AAEQ) belongs to the Large Cap Blend Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with AAEQ. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to AAEQ
AAEQ charges 0.15% annually. There are 33 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.02%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Equity ETF | 0.02% | 8.54B | Mar 2019 | AAEQ vs BBUS | |
| Global X U.S. 500 ETF | 0.02% | 4.51M | Sep 2025 | AAEQ vs GXLC | |
| Franklin U.S. Equity Index ETF | 0.03% | 1.98B | Jun 2016 | AAEQ vs USPX | |
| iShares Core S&P Total U.S. Stock Market ETF | 0.03% | 93.53B | Jan 2004 | AAEQ vs ITOT | |
| Schwab U.S. Large-Cap ETF | 0.03% | 72.05B | Nov 2009 | AAEQ vs SCHX |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to AAEQ
Among 216 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with risk / return rank data, the top risk-adjusted alternatives shown here go as high as 90.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF | 90 | 1.04B | Sep 2018 | AAEQ vs IUS | |
| Return Stacked US Stocks & Futures Yield ETF | 90 | — | May 2024 | AAEQ vs RSSY | |
| Mohr Company Nav ETF | 84 | — | Sep 2024 | AAEQ vs CNAV | |
| Longview Advantage ETF | 84 | 562.31M | Feb 2025 | AAEQ vs EBI | |
| Pacer Swan SOS Conservative (December) ETF | 84 | 46.99M | Dec 2020 | AAEQ vs PSCX |
Top Performing AAEQ Alternatives (YTD)
AAEQ is at 5.97% YTD. There are 173 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 46.16%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohr Company Nav ETF | 46.16% | — | Sep 2024 | AAEQ vs CNAV | |
| Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection E... | 43.75% | 33.11M | Nov 2023 | AAEQ vs NRSH | |
| iShares MSCI USA Momentum Factor ETF | 32.00% | 28.16B | Apr 2013 | AAEQ vs MTUM | |
| ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF | 31.60% | 293.98M | Jun 2025 | AAEQ vs AFOS | |
| Return Stacked US Stocks & Futures Yield ETF | 29.90% | — | May 2024 | AAEQ vs RSSY |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to AAEQ
AAEQ has 14.32% 1-year volatility. There are 194 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 2.38%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FT Vest Laddered Max Buffer ETF | 2.38% | — | Jun 2025 | AAEQ vs BUFH | |
| FT Vest Laddered Enhance & Moderate Buffer ETF | 4.05% | — | Jun 2025 | AAEQ vs BUFX | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June | 4.51% | 457.76M | Jun 2020 | AAEQ vs DJUN | |
| Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - June | 4.60% | 171.95M | Jun 2019 | AAEQ vs UJUN | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May | 5.09% | 369.81M | May 2020 | AAEQ vs DMAY |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to AAEQ
Among 217 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with 1-year drawdown data, the lowest-drawdown alternatives shown here go as shallow as -2.84%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovator U.S. Equity Ultra Buffer ETF - June | -2.84% | 171.95M | Jun 2019 | AAEQ vs UJUN | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - June | -3.15% | 457.76M | Jun 2020 | AAEQ vs DJUN | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Deep Buffer ETF - May | -3.36% | 369.81M | May 2020 | AAEQ vs DMAY | |
| Bridges Capital Tactical ETF | -4.03% | 42.09M | May 2023 | AAEQ vs BDGS | |
| FT Cboe Vest U.S. Equity Buffer ETF - June | -4.13% | 1.89B | Jun 2020 | AAEQ vs FJUN |
Other ETFs from Alpha Architect
The 10 most viewed Alpha Architect ETFs shown here include BOXX, QMOM, CAOS and span 10 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $11B.
Often Compared With AAEQ
Investors most often compare AAEQ with BLCR, SCHB, FTIF. These 13 comparison targets span 4 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare AAEQ with Any Fund or Stock
Compare AAEQ with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair AAEQ with funds that move differently
Alpha Architect US Equity 2 ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to AAEQ.
Explore AAEQ Diversifiers