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Is iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (SMLF) a Strong ETF Right Now?
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The iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (SMLF - Free Report) was launched on 04/28/2015, and is a smart beta exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Style Box - Small Cap Blend category of the market.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.
Market cap weighted indexes work great for investors who believe in market efficiency. They provide a low-cost, convenient and transparent way of replicating market returns.
However, some investors believe in the possibility of beating the market through exceptional stock selection, and choose a different type of fund that tracks non-cap weighted strategies: smart beta.
This kind of index follows this same mindset, as it attempts to pick stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance; non-cap weighted strategies base selection on certain fundamental characteristics, or a mix of such characteristics.
The smart beta space gives investors many different choices, from equal-weighting, one of the simplest strategies, to more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting. However, not all of these methodologies have been able to deliver remarkable returns.
Fund Sponsor & Index
The fund is managed by Blackrock. SMLF has been able to amass assets over $2.54 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Style Box - Small Cap Blend. SMLF seeks to match the performance of the MSCI USA Small Cap Diversified Multiple-Factor Index before fees and expenses.
The STOXX U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor Index (USD) composed of U.S. small-capitalization stocks that have favourable exposure to target style factors subject to constraints.
Cost & Other Expenses
When considering an ETF's total return, expense ratios are an important factor. And, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive cousins in the long term if all other factors remain equal.
Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.15% for SMLF, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
SMLF's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 1.25%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure which minimizes single stock risk, it is still important to look into a fund's holdings before investing. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
SMLF's heaviest allocation is in the Industrials sector, which is about 19.2% of the portfolio. Its Information Technology and Financials round out the top three.
When you look at individual holdings, Emcor Group Inc (EME) accounts for about 1.11% of the fund's total assets, followed by Interactive Brokers Group Inc Clas (IBKR) and Comfort Systems Usa Inc (FIX).
Performance and Risk
So far this year, SMLF has added roughly 11.67%, and is up roughly 14.52% in the last one year (as of 10/24/2025). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $54.28 and $75.58.
SMLF has a beta of 1.10 and standard deviation of 20.17% for the trailing three-year period, which makes the fund a high risk choice in the space. With about 863 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .
Alternatives
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Style Box - Small Cap Blend segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.
Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) tracks CRSP US Small Cap Index and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Vanguard Small-Cap ETF has $69.04 billion in assets, iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has $86.86 billion. VB has an expense ratio of 0.05% and IJR changes 0.06%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Style Box - Small Cap Blend
Bottom Line
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
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Is iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (SMLF) a Strong ETF Right Now?
The iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (SMLF - Free Report) was launched on 04/28/2015, and is a smart beta exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Style Box - Small Cap Blend category of the market.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
Products that are based on market cap weighted indexes, which are strategies designed to reflect a specific market segment or the market as a whole, have traditionally dominated the ETF industry.
Market cap weighted indexes work great for investors who believe in market efficiency. They provide a low-cost, convenient and transparent way of replicating market returns.
However, some investors believe in the possibility of beating the market through exceptional stock selection, and choose a different type of fund that tracks non-cap weighted strategies: smart beta.
This kind of index follows this same mindset, as it attempts to pick stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance; non-cap weighted strategies base selection on certain fundamental characteristics, or a mix of such characteristics.
The smart beta space gives investors many different choices, from equal-weighting, one of the simplest strategies, to more complicated ones like fundamental and volatility/momentum based weighting. However, not all of these methodologies have been able to deliver remarkable returns.
Fund Sponsor & Index
The fund is managed by Blackrock. SMLF has been able to amass assets over $2.54 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs in the Style Box - Small Cap Blend. SMLF seeks to match the performance of the MSCI USA Small Cap Diversified Multiple-Factor Index before fees and expenses.
The STOXX U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor Index (USD) composed of U.S. small-capitalization stocks that have favourable exposure to target style factors subject to constraints.
Cost & Other Expenses
When considering an ETF's total return, expense ratios are an important factor. And, cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive cousins in the long term if all other factors remain equal.
Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.15% for SMLF, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
SMLF's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 1.25%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
Even though ETFs offer diversified exposure which minimizes single stock risk, it is still important to look into a fund's holdings before investing. Luckily, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
SMLF's heaviest allocation is in the Industrials sector, which is about 19.2% of the portfolio. Its Information Technology and Financials round out the top three.
When you look at individual holdings, Emcor Group Inc (EME) accounts for about 1.11% of the fund's total assets, followed by Interactive Brokers Group Inc Clas (IBKR) and Comfort Systems Usa Inc (FIX).
Performance and Risk
So far this year, SMLF has added roughly 11.67%, and is up roughly 14.52% in the last one year (as of 10/24/2025). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $54.28 and $75.58.
SMLF has a beta of 1.10 and standard deviation of 20.17% for the trailing three-year period, which makes the fund a high risk choice in the space. With about 863 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .
Alternatives
iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Style Box - Small Cap Blend segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.
Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) tracks CRSP US Small Cap Index and the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Vanguard Small-Cap ETF has $69.04 billion in assets, iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has $86.86 billion. VB has an expense ratio of 0.05% and IJR changes 0.06%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Style Box - Small Cap Blend
Bottom Line
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.