First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF (AFSM) belongs to the Small 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 AFSM. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to AFSM
AFSM charges 0.77% annually. There are 58 ETFs in the Small Cap Blend Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.04%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Morningstar Small-Cap ETF | 0.04% | 275.08M | Jun 2004 | AFSM vs ISCB | |
| Vanguard Small-Cap ETF | 0.05% | 177.40B | Jan 2004 | AFSM vs VB | |
| SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF | 0.05% | 15.79B | Jul 2013 | AFSM vs SPSM | |
| iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF | 0.06% | 103.49B | May 2000 | AFSM vs IJR | |
| JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF | 0.09% | 732.58M | Nov 2020 | AFSM vs BBSC |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to AFSM
AFSM has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 54. There are 30 ETFs in the Small Cap Blend Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 85.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco NASDAQ Future Gen 200 ETF | 85 | 18.47M | Oct 2022 | AFSM vs QQQS | |
| JPMorgan Fundamental Data Science Small Core ETF | 79 | 8.82M | Aug 2024 | AFSM vs SCDS | |
| First Trust Small Cap Core AlphaDEX Fund | 79 | 1.27B | May 2007 | AFSM vs FYX | |
| Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF | 76 | 5.00B | Dec 2007 | AFSM vs FESM | |
| U.S. Small Cap Equity Active ETF | 73 | — | May 2025 | AFSM vs RUSC |
Top Performing AFSM Alternatives (YTD)
AFSM is at 15.65% YTD. There are 19 ETFs in the Small Cap Blend Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 27.27%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invesco NASDAQ Future Gen 200 ETF | 27.27% | 18.47M | Oct 2022 | AFSM vs QQQS | |
| JPMorgan Fundamental Data Science Small Core ETF | 23.60% | 8.82M | Aug 2024 | AFSM vs SCDS | |
| Allspring SMID Core ETF | 22.72% | 33.92M | Jul 2025 | AFSM vs ASCE | |
| Inspire Small/Mid Cap Impact ETF | 21.54% | 318.37M | Feb 2017 | AFSM vs ISMD | |
| Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF | 19.64% | 5.00B | Dec 2007 | AFSM vs FESM |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to AFSM
AFSM has 17.89% 1-year volatility. There are 41 ETFs in the Small Cap Blend Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 6.21%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ProShares Russell 2000 Dynamic Daily Buffer ETF | 6.21% | — | Jun 2025 | AFSM vs RB | |
| First Trust Horizon Managed Volatility Small/Mid E... | 10.37% | 31.42M | Apr 2020 | AFSM vs HSMV | |
| OShares U.S. Small-Cap Quality Dividend ETF | 13.15% | 876.85M | Dec 2016 | AFSM vs OUSM | |
| 6 Meridian Small Cap Equity ETF | 13.30% | 106.31M | May 2020 | AFSM vs SIXS | |
| Opus Small Cap Value Plus ETF | 13.37% | 685.56M | Jul 2018 | AFSM vs OSCV |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to AFSM
AFSM has a 1-year max drawdown of -9.56%. There are 33 ETFs in the Small Cap Blend Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -6.15%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF | -6.15% | 3.51B | Jun 2017 | AFSM vs CALF | |
| Hypatia Women CEO ETF | -6.96% | 5.55M | Jan 2023 | AFSM vs WCEO | |
| 6 Meridian Small Cap Equity ETF | -7.16% | 106.31M | May 2020 | AFSM vs SIXS | |
| VictoryShares US Small Cap High Dividend Volatilit... | -7.18% | 260.47M | Jul 2015 | AFSM vs CSB | |
| Opus Small Cap Value Plus ETF | -7.55% | 685.56M | Jul 2018 | AFSM vs OSCV |
Other ETFs from First Trust
The 10 most viewed First Trust ETFs shown here include CIBR, GRID, NFTY and span 11 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $14B.
Often Compared With AFSM
Investors most often compare AFSM with IWC, AVUV, SMIN. These 19 comparison targets span 16 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare AFSM with Any Fund or Stock
Compare AFSM with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair AFSM with funds that move differently
First Trust Active Factor Small Cap ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to AFSM.
Explore AFSM Diversifiers