FESM vs. VB
Compare and contrast key facts about Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF (FESM) and Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB).
FESM and VB are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FESM is an actively managed fund by Fidelity. It was launched on Dec 20, 2007. VB is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Small Cap. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004.
Performance
FESM vs. VB - Performance Comparison
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FESM vs. VB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
FESM Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF | 0.82% | 17.88% | 16.22% | 12.19% |
VB Vanguard Small-Cap ETF | 1.92% | 8.87% | 14.17% | 11.23% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, FESM achieves a 0.82% return, which is significantly lower than VB's 1.92% return.
FESM
- 1D
- 3.29%
- 1M
- -4.77%
- YTD
- 0.82%
- 6M
- 4.42%
- 1Y
- 29.74%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
VB
- 1D
- 3.18%
- 1M
- -5.13%
- YTD
- 1.92%
- 6M
- 3.76%
- 1Y
- 19.75%
- 3Y*
- 13.04%
- 5Y*
- 5.35%
- 10Y*
- 10.51%
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FESM vs. VB - Expense Ratio Comparison
FESM has a 0.28% expense ratio, which is higher than VB's 0.05% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FESM vs. VB — Risk / Return Rank
FESM
VB
FESM vs. VB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF (FESM) and Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB). 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.
| FESM | VB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.30 | 0.91 | +0.39 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.87 | 1.41 | +0.46 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.19 | +0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.19 | 1.39 | +0.80 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.40 | 5.97 | +2.43 |
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
| FESM | VB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.30 | 0.91 | +0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.26 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.49 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.96 | 0.42 | +0.54 |
Correlation
The correlation between FESM and VB is 0.96, 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
FESM vs. VB - Dividend Comparison
FESM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.63%, less than VB's 1.34% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FESM Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF | 0.63% | 0.82% | 1.08% | 0.06% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VB Vanguard Small-Cap ETF | 1.34% | 1.33% | 1.30% | 1.55% | 1.59% | 1.24% | 1.14% | 1.39% | 1.67% | 1.35% | 1.50% | 1.48% |
Drawdowns
FESM vs. VB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FESM drawdown since its inception was -26.93%, smaller than the maximum VB drawdown of -59.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FESM and VB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FESM | VB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -26.93% | -59.56% | +32.63% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.54% | -14.29% | +0.75% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -28.15% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -42.05% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.23% | -6.08% | -1.15% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -5.04% | -8.49% | +3.45% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.53% | 3.32% | +0.21% |
Volatility
FESM vs. VB - Volatility Comparison
Fidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF (FESM) has a higher volatility of 7.40% compared to Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) at 6.84%. This indicates that FESM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FESM | VB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.40% | 6.84% | +0.56% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.26% | 12.60% | +1.66% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.98% | 21.86% | +1.12% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.49% | 20.78% | +0.71% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.49% | 21.40% | +0.09% |