ESMV vs. USMV
ESMV (iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF) and USMV (iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF) are both Large Cap Blend Equities funds from iShares - ESMV tracks the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Extended ESG Reduced Carbon Target Index - Benchmark TR Gross while USMV tracks the MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, ESMV returned 11.49%/yr vs 12.02%/yr for USMV. Their correlation of 0.91 suggests significant overlap in exposure. ESMV charges 0.18%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for USMV.
Performance
ESMV vs. USMV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ESMV achieves a 5.72% return, which is significantly higher than USMV's 3.08% return.
ESMV
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- 3.71%
- YTD
- 5.72%
- 6M
- 5.91%
- 1Y
- 7.59%
- 3Y*
- 11.49%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
USMV
- 1D
- 0.42%
- 1M
- 2.33%
- YTD
- 3.08%
- 6M
- 3.12%
- 1Y
- 5.25%
- 3Y*
- 12.02%
- 5Y*
- 7.54%
- 10Y*
- 9.98%
ESMV vs. USMV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESMV iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF | 5.72% | 5.34% | 13.06% | 12.20% | -11.08% | 3.20% |
USMV iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF | 3.08% | 7.65% | 15.74% | 10.33% | -9.43% | 3.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between ESMV and USMV is 0.93, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.93 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 5, 2021 | 0.91 |
The correlation between ESMV and USMV has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.91 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
ESMV vs. USMV — Risk / Return Rank
ESMV
USMV
ESMV vs. USMV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (ESMV) and iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV). 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.
| ESMV | USMV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.14 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.18 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.14 | 1.11 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.09 | 0.82 | +0.27 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.34 | 2.72 | +0.61 |
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
| ESMV | USMV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.76 | 0.62 | +0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.61 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.69 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.44 | 0.87 | -0.43 |
Drawdowns
ESMV vs. USMV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ESMV drawdown since its inception was -19.77%, smaller than the maximum USMV drawdown of -33.10%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ESMV and USMV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| ESMV | USMV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -19.77% | -33.10% | +13.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.01% | -6.46% | -0.55% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.16% | -9.36% | -2.80% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -17.93% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -33.10% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.37% | -0.77% | +0.40% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.32% | -2.88% | -2.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.28% | 1.93% | +0.35% |
Volatility
ESMV vs. USMV - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (ESMV) is 2.26%, while iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (USMV) has a volatility of 2.40%. This indicates that ESMV experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than USMV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| ESMV | USMV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.26% | 2.40% | -0.14% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 6.27% | 5.91% | +0.36% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.07% | 8.51% | +1.56% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 13.24% | 12.35% | +0.89% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 13.24% | 14.50% | -1.26% |
ESMV vs. USMV - Expense Ratio Comparison
ESMV has a 0.18% expense ratio, which is higher than USMV's 0.15% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
ESMV vs. USMV - Dividend Comparison
ESMV's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.58%, more than USMV's 1.52% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ESMV iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF | 1.58% | 1.56% | 1.71% | 1.75% | 1.66% | 0.24% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
USMV iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF | 1.52% | 1.49% | 1.67% | 1.82% | 1.62% | 1.26% | 1.81% | 1.88% | 2.12% | 1.77% | 2.22% | 2.02% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.93, ESMV and USMV move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
USMV has higher volatility (2.40%) compared to ESMV (2.26%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ESMV dropped -19.77% vs USMV's -33.10%.
On 3-year performance, USMV leads with 12.02% vs 11.49% for ESMV. On fees, USMV is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, ESMV has been the lower-risk option at 2.26%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, USMV has performed better with a 12.02% return vs 11.49%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
USMV is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.18% for ESMV.
ESMV has the higher dividend yield at 1.58%, compared with 1.52% for USMV.
ESMV tracks MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Extended ESG Reduced Carbon Target Index - Benchmark TR Gross, while USMV tracks MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index. Their fees differ too: 0.18% for ESMV and 0.15% for USMV.
ESMV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (0.76 vs 0.62), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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