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PSC vs. SMMV
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

PSC vs. SMMV

Last updated Aug 2, 2026
Documentation

PSC (Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF) and SMMV (iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF) are both Small Cap Blend Equities funds - PSC tracks the Nasdaq US Small Cap Select Leaders TR Index while SMMV tracks the MSCI USA Small Cap Minimum Volatility (USD) Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, PSC returned 9.51%/yr vs 6.29%/yr for SMMV. Their 0.76 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. PSC charges 0.38%/yr vs 0.20%/yr for SMMV.

Performance

PSC vs. SMMV - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC) and iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF (SMMV). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, PSC achieves a 18.31% return, which is significantly higher than SMMV's 9.33% return.

PSC

1D
-0.58%
1M
-1.08%
6M
13.74%
YTD
18.31%
1Y
31.90%
3Y*
16.31%
5Y*
9.51%
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
11.86%

SMMV

1D
-0.06%
1M
0.56%
6M
7.36%
YTD
9.33%
1Y
16.10%
3Y*
12.24%
5Y*
6.29%
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
8.71%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

PositionAvg. Volume Value (2W)Avg. Volume Value (1M)Avg. Volume Value (3M)

PSC

Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF
$6.70M$7.59M$7.79M

SMMV

iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF
$337.38K$347.17K$431.55K

PSC vs. SMMV - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
PSC
Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF		18.31%13.41%12.38%18.51%-15.91%32.56%13.30%18.99%-11.35%15.93%
SMMV
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF		9.33%6.42%18.29%5.63%-10.00%16.64%-2.88%24.21%1.15%14.31%

Correlation

The correlation between PSC and SMMV is 0.62, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.

0.62

Correlation (3Y)
Balances recent behavior with more history.

0.80

Correlation (5Y)
Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.

0.85

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 22, 2016

0.76

The correlation between PSC and SMMV shifts across timeframes, from 0.62 (1 year) to 0.85 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

PSC vs. SMMV - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
PSC
SMMV

Technology

19.5%
13.7%

Healthcare

16.9%
18.7%

Financial Services

16.9%
9.2%

Industrials

16.8%
13.6%

Consumer Cyclical

8.1%
5.3%

Real Estate

5.3%
12.5%

Energy

5.1%
5.2%

Basic Materials

4.1%
1.6%

Communication Services

2.6%
5.1%

Utilities

2.4%
7.5%

Consumer Defensive

2.3%
7.6%

Technology

PSC
19.5%
SMMV
13.7%

Healthcare

PSC
16.9%
SMMV
18.7%

Financial Services

PSC
16.9%
SMMV
9.2%

Industrials

PSC
16.8%
SMMV
13.6%

Consumer Cyclical

PSC
8.1%
SMMV
5.3%

Real Estate

PSC
5.3%
SMMV
12.5%

Energy

PSC
5.1%
SMMV
5.2%

Basic Materials

PSC
4.1%
SMMV
1.6%

Communication Services

PSC
2.6%
SMMV
5.1%

Utilities

PSC
2.4%
SMMV
7.5%

Consumer Defensive

PSC
2.3%
SMMV
7.6%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF

iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF

Often compared with PSC:
PSC vs. IJRPSC vs. VBKPSC vs. VBPSC vs. VIOVPSC vs. QQQPSC vs. STLGPSC vs. VOO
Often compared with SMMV:
SMMV vs. SMLFSMMV vs. SMLVSMMV vs. USMVSMMV vs. XMU.TOSMMV vs. VBSMMV vs. IWMSMMV vs. IVV

Return for Risk

PSC vs. SMMV — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
PSC
PSC Risk / Return Rank: 7373
Overall Rank
PSC Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6969
Sharpe Ratio Rank
PSC Sortino Ratio Rank: 7171
Sortino Ratio Rank
PSC Omega Ratio Rank: 6363
Omega Ratio Rank
PSC Calmar Ratio Rank: 8181
Calmar Ratio Rank
PSC Martin Ratio Rank: 8080
Martin Ratio Rank
SMMV
SMMV Risk / Return Rank: 6666
Overall Rank
SMMV Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6969
Sharpe Ratio Rank
SMMV Sortino Ratio Rank: 7575
Sortino Ratio Rank
SMMV Omega Ratio Rank: 6868
Omega Ratio Rank
SMMV Calmar Ratio Rank: 6363
Calmar Ratio Rank
SMMV Martin Ratio Rank: 5656
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

PSC vs. SMMV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC) and iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF (SMMV). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

PSCSMMVDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.58
1.58

0.00

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.30
2.42

-0.13

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.27

1.28

-0.01

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.97

2.19

+0.78

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

10.41

6.75

+3.66

PSC vs. SMMV - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current PSC Sharpe Ratio is 1.58, which is comparable to the SMMV Sharpe Ratio of 1.58. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of PSC and SMMV, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

PSC vs. SMMV - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum PSC drawdown since its inception was -46.69%, which is greater than SMMV's maximum drawdown of -38.77%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for PSC and SMMV.

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Drawdown Indicators

PSCSMMVDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-46.69%

-38.77%

-7.92%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-9.95%

-7.02%

-2.93%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-23.49%

-13.68%

-9.81%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-25.86%

-18.00%

-7.86%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.78%

-1.07%

-1.71%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-8.17%

-5.04%

-3.13%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.84%

2.28%

+0.56%

Volatility

PSC vs. SMMV - Volatility Comparison

Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC) has a higher volatility of 3.84% compared to iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF (SMMV) at 2.85%. This indicates that PSC's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SMMV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

PSCSMMVDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.84%

2.85%

+0.99%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

13.31%

6.98%

+6.33%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

18.77%

9.75%

+9.02%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

20.88%

13.44%

+7.44%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

23.19%

15.62%

+7.57%

PSC vs. SMMV - Expense Ratio Comparison

PSC has a 0.38% expense ratio, which is higher than SMMV's 0.20% expense ratio.

Dividends

PSC vs. SMMV - Dividend Comparison

PSC's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.53%, less than SMMV's 1.66% yield.

PositionTTM2025202420232022202120202019201820172016
PSC
Principal U.S. Small Cap Multi-Factor ETF		0.53%0.67%0.75%0.73%1.92%1.45%1.25%1.47%1.30%0.95%0.35%
SMMV
iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Min Vol Factor ETF		1.66%1.77%1.76%2.30%1.67%1.08%1.39%1.64%1.72%1.63%0.79%

Frequently Asked Questions

PSC and SMMV have a correlation of 0.62, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

PSC has higher volatility (3.84%) compared to SMMV (2.85%). In terms of maximum drawdown, PSC dropped -46.69% vs SMMV's -38.77%.

On 5-year performance, PSC leads with 9.51% vs 6.29% for SMMV. On fees, SMMV is cheaper at 0.20% per year. On volatility, SMMV has been the lower-risk option at 2.85%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 5-year period, PSC has performed better with a 9.51% return vs 6.29%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

SMMV is cheaper with a 0.20% expense ratio, compared with 0.38% for PSC.

SMMV has the higher dividend yield at 1.66%, compared with 0.53% for PSC.

PSC tracks Nasdaq US Small Cap Select Leaders TR Index, while SMMV tracks MSCI USA Small Cap Minimum Volatility (USD) Index. They also come from different issuers: Principal and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.38% for PSC and 0.20% for SMMV.

SMMV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.58 vs 1.58), 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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