iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) 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 ESGU. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.
Cheapest Alternatives to ESGU
ESGU charges 0.15% annually. There are 40 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.02%.
| Symbol | Name | Expense Ratio | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global X U.S. 500 ETF | 0.02% | 4.50M | Sep 2025 | ESGU vs GXLC | |
| JPMorgan BetaBuilders U.S. Equity ETF | 0.02% | 8.89B | Mar 2019 | ESGU vs BBUS | |
| Franklin U.S. Equity Index ETF | 0.03% | 2.00B | Jun 2016 | ESGU vs USPX | |
| Schwab 1000 Index ETF | 0.03% | 5.72B | Oct 2017 | ESGU vs SCHK | |
| SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF | 0.03% | 13.48B | Oct 2000 | ESGU vs SPTM |
Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to ESGU
ESGU has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 65. There are 83 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 96.
| Symbol | Name | Risk / Return Rank | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avantis Inflation Focused Equity ETF | 96 | 12.36M | Sep 2022 | ESGU vs AVIE | |
| Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF | 96 | 927.09M | Sep 2018 | ESGU vs IUS | |
| ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF | 94 | 293.98M | Jun 2025 | ESGU vs AFOS | |
| PIMCO RAFI ESG U.S. ETF | 93 | 160.47M | Dec 2019 | ESGU vs RAFE | |
| Essential 40 Stock ETF | 93 | 180.66M | Jun 2014 | ESGU vs ESN |
Top Performing ESGU Alternatives (YTD)
ESGU is at 10.36% YTD. There are 108 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 33.68%.
| Symbol | Name | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aztlan North America Nearshoring Stock Selection E... | 33.68% | 33.11M | Nov 2023 | ESGU vs NRSH | |
| Return Stacked US Stocks & Futures Yield ETF | 29.79% | — | May 2024 | ESGU vs RSSY | |
| ARS Focused Opportunities Strategy ETF | 27.82% | 293.98M | Jun 2025 | ESGU vs AFOS | |
| Mohr Company Nav ETF | 24.51% | — | Sep 2024 | ESGU vs CNAV | |
| First Trust Bloomberg Inflation Sensitive Equity E... | 24.04% | 5.62M | Mar 2023 | ESGU vs FTIF |
Lowest Volatility Alternatives to ESGU
ESGU has 13.15% 1-year volatility. There are 111 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 7.57%.
| Symbol | Name | Volatility 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azoria 500 Meritocracy ETF | 7.57% | — | Jul 2025 | ESGU vs SPXM | |
| 6 Meridian Mega Cap Equity ETF | 9.05% | 402.23M | May 2020 | ESGU vs SIXA | |
| Liberty One Spectrum ETF | 9.38% | 65.78M | Sep 2025 | ESGU vs SPCT | |
| ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF | 9.50% | 744.97M | Jul 2009 | ESGU vs EQL | |
| T. Rowe Price Dividend Growth ETF | 9.74% | 1.42B | Aug 2020 | ESGU vs TDVG |
Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to ESGU
ESGU has a 1-year max drawdown of -9.26%. There are 104 ETFs in the Large Cap Blend Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -4.97%.
| Symbol | Name | Max Drawdown 1Y | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avantis Inflation Focused Equity ETF | -4.97% | 12.36M | Sep 2022 | ESGU vs AVIE | |
| Azoria 500 Meritocracy ETF | -5.08% | — | Jul 2025 | ESGU vs SPXM | |
| 6 Meridian Mega Cap Equity ETF | -5.59% | 402.23M | May 2020 | ESGU vs SIXA | |
| Invesco RAFI Strategic US ETF | -6.15% | 927.09M | Sep 2018 | ESGU vs IUS | |
| ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF | -6.19% | 744.97M | Jul 2009 | ESGU vs EQL |
Other ETFs from iShares
The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include SGOV, IBIT, SOXX and span 14 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $869B.
| Symbol | Name | Category | Risk / Return Rank | YTD Return | AUM | Inception | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | Ultrashort Bond | 100 | 2.11% | 99.95B | May 2020 | ESGU vs SGOV | |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | Cryptocurrency | 1 | -28.22% | 46.52B | Jan 2024 | ESGU vs IBIT | |
| iShares Semiconductor ETF | Semiconductors, Technology Equities | 90 | 67.84% | 44.69B | Jul 2001 | ESGU vs SOXX | |
| iShares Core S&P 500 ETF | S&P 500 | 67 | 10.13% | 869.20B | May 2000 | ESGU vs IVV | |
| iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF | Large Cap Growth Equities, Dividend | 91 | 13.39% | 42.77B | Jun 2014 | ESGU vs DGRO | |
| iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF | Government Bonds, Long-Term Bond | 9 | -3.49% | 41.54B | Jul 2002 | ESGU vs TLT | |
| iShares Silver Trust | Silver, Precious Metals | 36 | -18.72% | 28.08B | Apr 2006 | ESGU vs SLV | |
| iShares Gold Trust | Gold, Precious Metals | 30 | -6.16% | 59.74B | Jan 2005 | ESGU vs IAU | |
| iShares Russell 2000 ETF | Small Cap Blend Equities | 79 | 18.79% | 80.11B | May 2000 | ESGU vs IWM | |
| iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Global Equities | 71 | 11.28% | 32.49B | Mar 2008 | ESGU vs ACWI |
Often Compared With ESGU
Investors most often compare ESGU with ESGV, SPY, ESGD. These 20 comparison targets span 11 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.
Compare ESGU with Any Fund or Stock
Compare ESGU with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.
Pair ESGU with funds that move differently
iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to ESGU.
Explore ESGU Diversifiers