NUSC vs. FLQS
NUSC (Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF) and FLQS (Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF) are both Small Cap Growth Equities funds - NUSC tracks the MSCI TIAA ESG USA Small Cap while FLQS tracks the LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, NUSC returned 4.68%/yr vs 5.27%/yr for FLQS. Their correlation of 0.88 suggests significant overlap in exposure. NUSC charges 0.30%/yr vs 0.35%/yr for FLQS.
Performance
NUSC vs. FLQS - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, NUSC achieves a 12.88% return, which is significantly higher than FLQS's 6.14% return.
NUSC
- 1D
- -0.57%
- 1M
- 3.77%
- YTD
- 12.88%
- 6M
- 12.74%
- 1Y
- 27.41%
- 3Y*
- 13.27%
- 5Y*
- 4.68%
- 10Y*
- —
FLQS
- 1D
- -0.81%
- 1M
- 0.12%
- YTD
- 6.14%
- 6M
- 5.99%
- 1Y
- 13.84%
- 3Y*
- 11.59%
- 5Y*
- 5.27%
- 10Y*
- —
NUSC vs. FLQS - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
NUSC Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF | 12.88% | 7.72% | 8.29% | 15.72% | -17.73% | 17.51% | 23.69% | 27.09% | -9.40% | 10.96% |
FLQS Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF | 6.14% | 5.04% | 8.34% | 21.28% | -16.88% | 26.58% | 10.51% | 18.34% | -5.86% | 7.41% |
Correlation
The correlation between NUSC and FLQS is 0.92, 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 | 0.92 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 1, 2017 | 0.88 |
The correlation between NUSC and FLQS has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.88 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
NUSC vs. FLQS — Risk / Return Rank
NUSC
FLQS
NUSC vs. FLQS - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) and Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (FLQS). 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.
| NUSC | FLQS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.70 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.93 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.17 | +0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.72 | 1.54 | +1.18 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.81 | 4.55 | +5.26 |
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
| NUSC | FLQS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.61 | 0.91 | +0.70 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.22 | 0.28 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.44 | 0.38 | +0.06 |
Drawdowns
NUSC vs. FLQS - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum NUSC drawdown since its inception was -41.49%, roughly equal to the maximum FLQS drawdown of -42.16%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for NUSC and FLQS.
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Drawdown Indicators
| NUSC | FLQS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.49% | -42.16% | +0.67% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -10.10% | -9.00% | -1.10% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.95% | -23.12% | -3.83% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.85% | -28.05% | -0.80% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.57% | -1.33% | +0.76% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.21% | -8.02% | -0.19% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.80% | 3.05% | -0.25% |
Volatility
NUSC vs. FLQS - Volatility Comparison
Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF (NUSC) has a higher volatility of 4.50% compared to Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF (FLQS) at 4.09%. This indicates that NUSC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FLQS based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| NUSC | FLQS | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.50% | 4.09% | +0.41% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.17% | 10.26% | +1.91% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.11% | 15.22% | +1.89% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.15% | 19.24% | +1.91% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.36% | 21.68% | +0.68% |
NUSC vs. FLQS - Expense Ratio Comparison
NUSC has a 0.30% expense ratio, which is lower than FLQS's 0.35% expense ratio.
Dividends
NUSC vs. FLQS - Dividend Comparison
NUSC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.93%, less than FLQS's 1.35% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FLQS Franklin LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity ETF | 1.35% | 1.16% | 1.29% | 1.75% | 1.40% | 0.95% | 1.20% | 1.41% | 1.27% | 1.02% |
NUSC Nuveen ESG Small-Cap ETF | 0.93% | 1.05% | 1.15% | 1.11% | 1.16% | 7.06% | 0.52% | 0.90% | 3.95% | 0.94% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.92, NUSC and FLQS 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.
NUSC has higher volatility (4.50%) compared to FLQS (4.09%). In terms of maximum drawdown, NUSC dropped -41.49% vs FLQS's -42.16%.
On 5-year performance, FLQS leads with 5.27% vs 4.68% for NUSC. On fees, NUSC is cheaper at 0.30% per year. On volatility, FLQS has been the lower-risk option at 4.09%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, FLQS has performed better with a 5.27% return vs 4.68%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
NUSC is cheaper with a 0.30% expense ratio, compared with 0.35% for FLQS.
FLQS has the higher dividend yield at 1.35%, compared with 0.93% for NUSC.
NUSC tracks MSCI TIAA ESG USA Small Cap, while FLQS tracks LibertyQ U.S. Small Cap Equity Index. They also come from different issuers: Nuveen and Franklin Templeton. Their fees differ too: 0.30% for NUSC and 0.35% for FLQS.
NUSC currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.61 vs 0.91), 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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