ESML vs. CAFG

Last updated Apr 1, 2026

Compare and contrast key facts about iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) and Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF (CAFG).

ESML and CAFG are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. ESML is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI USA Small Cap Extended ESG Focus Index. It was launched on Apr 10, 2018. CAFG is a passively managed fund by Pacer that tracks the performance of the Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders Index - Benchmark TR Gross. It was launched on May 1, 2023. Both ESML and CAFG are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.

Performance

ESML vs. CAFG - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) and Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF (CAFG). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

ESML vs. CAFG - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
ESML iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF	2.51%	10.62%	12.01%	16.83%
CAFG Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF	7.31%	0.17%	6.95%	20.44%

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ESML achieves a 2.51% return, which is significantly lower than CAFG's 7.31% return.

ESML

• 1D: 3.11%
• 1M: -5.16%
• YTD: 2.51%
• 6M: 4.85%
• 1Y: 23.82%
• 3Y*: 12.82%
• 5Y*: 5.04%
• 10Y*: —

CAFG

• 1D: 2.95%
• 1M: -2.69%
• YTD: 7.31%
• 6M: 5.20%
• 1Y: 13.05%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ESML vs. CAFG - Expense Ratio Comparison

ESML has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than CAFG's 0.59% expense ratio.

CAFG

Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF

ESML

iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF

Return for Risk

ESML vs. CAFG — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

ESML

ESML Risk / Return Rank: 65
ESML Sharpe Ratio Rank: 63
ESML Sortino Ratio Rank: 65
ESML Omega Ratio Rank: 61
ESML Calmar Ratio Rank: 65
ESML Martin Ratio Rank: 70

CAFG

CAFG Risk / Return Rank: 40
CAFG Sharpe Ratio Rank: 33
CAFG Sortino Ratio Rank: 35
CAFG Omega Ratio Rank: 32
CAFG Calmar Ratio Rank: 49
CAFG Martin Ratio Rank: 50

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

ESML vs. CAFG - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) and Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF (CAFG). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	ESML	CAFG	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.08	0.62	+0.46
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	1.63	1.02	+0.61
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.22	1.13	+0.09
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.60	1.27	+0.34
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	6.95	4.89	+2.07
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

ESML vs. CAFG - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ESML Sharpe Ratio is 1.08, which is higher than the CAFG Sharpe Ratio of 0.62. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ESML and CAFG, offering insights into how both investments have performed under varying market conditions. These values are calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	ESML	CAFG	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.08	0.62	+0.46
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.24	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.39	0.60	-0.21

Correlation

The correlation between ESML and CAFG is 0.89, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.

Dividends

ESML vs. CAFG - Dividend Comparison

ESML's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.08%, more than CAFG's 0.32% yield.

	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018
ESML iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF	1.08%	1.08%	1.22%	1.31%	1.46%	0.94%	0.99%	1.10%	1.07%
CAFG Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF	0.32%	0.35%	0.36%	0.39%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Drawdowns

ESML vs. CAFG - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ESML drawdown since its inception was -41.97%, which is greater than CAFG's maximum drawdown of -23.66%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ESML and CAFG.

Drawdown Indicators

	ESML	CAFG	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-41.97%	-23.66%	-18.31%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-14.71%	-13.08%	-1.63%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-28.61%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-6.20%	-3.74%	-2.46%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-9.14%	-5.81%	-3.33%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.39%	3.40%	-0.01%

Volatility

ESML vs. CAFG - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) is 6.61%, while Pacer US Small Cap Cash Cows Growth Leaders ETF (CAFG) has a volatility of 7.41%. This indicates that ESML experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than CAFG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ESML	CAFG	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	6.61%	7.41%	-0.80%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.81%	13.24%	-0.43%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	22.19%	21.41%	+0.78%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.28%	19.76%	+1.52%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	23.55%	19.76%	+3.79%