ESML vs. MMSC
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) and First Trust Multi-Manager Small Cap Opportunities ETF (MMSC).
ESML and MMSC 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. MMSC is an actively managed fund by First Trust. It was launched on Oct 13, 2021.
Performance
ESML vs. MMSC - Performance Comparison
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ESML vs. MMSC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESML iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF | 2.51% | 10.62% | 12.01% | 17.27% | -17.28% | -0.01% |
MMSC First Trust Multi-Manager Small Cap Opportunities ETF | -0.98% | 15.45% | 22.19% | 18.76% | -30.98% | 1.01% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ESML achieves a 2.51% return, which is significantly higher than MMSC's -0.98% return.
ESML
- 1D
- 3.11%
- 1M
- -5.16%
- YTD
- 2.51%
- 6M
- 4.85%
- 1Y
- 23.82%
- 3Y*
- 12.82%
- 5Y*
- 5.04%
- 10Y*
- —
MMSC
- 1D
- 4.82%
- 1M
- -6.15%
- YTD
- -0.98%
- 6M
- 1.92%
- 1Y
- 30.40%
- 3Y*
- 16.41%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
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ESML vs. MMSC - Expense Ratio Comparison
ESML has a 0.17% expense ratio, which is lower than MMSC's 0.95% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
ESML vs. MMSC — Risk / Return Rank
ESML
MMSC
ESML vs. MMSC - 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 First Trust Multi-Manager Small Cap Opportunities ETF (MMSC). 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 | MMSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.08 | 1.16 | -0.08 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.63 | 1.70 | -0.07 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.22 | 1.23 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.60 | 2.05 | -0.44 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.95 | 7.28 | -0.32 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| ESML | MMSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.08 | 1.16 | -0.08 |
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 | 0.14 | +0.26 |
Correlation
The correlation between ESML and MMSC is 0.92, 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. MMSC - Dividend Comparison
ESML's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.08%, while MMSC has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| 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% |
MMSC First Trust Multi-Manager Small Cap Opportunities ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.41% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
ESML vs. MMSC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ESML drawdown since its inception was -41.97%, roughly equal to the maximum MMSC drawdown of -40.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ESML and MMSC.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ESML | MMSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.97% | -40.82% | -1.15% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.71% | -14.17% | -0.54% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.61% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.20% | -9.96% | +3.76% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.14% | -19.44% | +10.30% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.39% | 3.98% | -0.59% |
Volatility
ESML vs. MMSC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Small-Cap ETF (ESML) is 6.61%, while First Trust Multi-Manager Small Cap Opportunities ETF (MMSC) has a volatility of 10.00%. This indicates that ESML experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MMSC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ESML | MMSC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.61% | 10.00% | -3.39% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.81% | 18.07% | -5.26% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.19% | 26.46% | -4.27% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.28% | 24.54% | -3.26% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.55% | 24.54% | -0.99% |