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Is iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (ISCF) a Strong ETF Right Now?
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The iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (ISCF - Free Report) made its debut on 04/28/2015, and is a smart beta exchange traded fund that provides broad exposure to the Foreign Small/Mid Blend ETF category of the market.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
The ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by products based on market capitalization weighted indexes that are designed to represent the market or a particular segment of the market.
A good option for investors who believe in market efficiency, market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns.
If you're the kind of investor who would rather try and beat the market through good stock selection, then smart beta funds are your best choice; this fund class is known for tracking non-cap weighted strategies.
Based on specific fundamental characteristics, or a combination of such, these indexes attempt to pick stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance.
Methodologies like equal-weighting, one of the simplest options out there, fundamental weighting, and volatility/momentum based weighting are all choices offered to investors in this space, but not all of them can deliver superior returns.
Fund Sponsor & Index
ISCF is managed by Blackrock, and this fund has amassed over $538.07 million, which makes it one of the average sized ETFs in the Foreign Small/Mid Blend ETF. Before fees and expenses, ISCF seeks to match the performance of the MSCI World exUSA Small Cap Diversified Multiple-Factor Index.
The STOXX International Small-Cap Equity Factor Index composes of global developed market small-capitalization stocks, excluding the US, that have favourable exposure to target style factors subject to constraints.
Cost & Other Expenses
For ETF investors, expense ratios are an important factor when considering a fund's return; in the long-term, cheaper funds actually have the ability to outperform their more expensive cousins if all other things remain the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.23%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
It's 12-month trailing dividend yield comes in at 3.76%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
It is important to delve into an ETF's holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
Looking at individual holdings, Abn Amro Bank Nv (ABN) accounts for about 0.93% of total assets, followed by Banco De Sabadell Sa (SAB) and Logitech International Sa (LOGN).
The top 10 holdings account for about 5.45% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
So far this year, ISCF return is roughly 33.05%, and is up about 34.25% in the last one year (as of 12/23/2025). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $30.25 and $41.81.
ISCF has a beta of 0.82 and standard deviation of 14.60% for the trailing three-year period, which makes the fund a medium risk choice in the space. With about 1123 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .
Alternatives
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Small/Mid Blend ETF segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.
SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF (GWX) tracks S&P Developed Ex-U.S. Under USD2 Billion Index and the Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (SCHC) tracks FTSE DEVELOPED SMALL CAP EX US LIQUID INDEX. SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF has $784.93 million in assets, Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF has $5.09 billion. GWX has an expense ratio of 0.40% and SCHC changes 0.08%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Foreign Small/Mid Blend ETF
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 International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (ISCF) a Strong ETF Right Now?
The iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (ISCF - Free Report) made its debut on 04/28/2015, and is a smart beta exchange traded fund that provides broad exposure to the Foreign Small/Mid Blend ETF category of the market.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
The ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by products based on market capitalization weighted indexes that are designed to represent the market or a particular segment of the market.
A good option for investors who believe in market efficiency, market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns.
If you're the kind of investor who would rather try and beat the market through good stock selection, then smart beta funds are your best choice; this fund class is known for tracking non-cap weighted strategies.
Based on specific fundamental characteristics, or a combination of such, these indexes attempt to pick stocks that have a better chance of risk-return performance.
Methodologies like equal-weighting, one of the simplest options out there, fundamental weighting, and volatility/momentum based weighting are all choices offered to investors in this space, but not all of them can deliver superior returns.
Fund Sponsor & Index
ISCF is managed by Blackrock, and this fund has amassed over $538.07 million, which makes it one of the average sized ETFs in the Foreign Small/Mid Blend ETF. Before fees and expenses, ISCF seeks to match the performance of the MSCI World exUSA Small Cap Diversified Multiple-Factor Index.
The STOXX International Small-Cap Equity Factor Index composes of global developed market small-capitalization stocks, excluding the US, that have favourable exposure to target style factors subject to constraints.
Cost & Other Expenses
For ETF investors, expense ratios are an important factor when considering a fund's return; in the long-term, cheaper funds actually have the ability to outperform their more expensive cousins if all other things remain the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.23%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
It's 12-month trailing dividend yield comes in at 3.76%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
It is important to delve into an ETF's holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
Looking at individual holdings, Abn Amro Bank Nv (ABN) accounts for about 0.93% of total assets, followed by Banco De Sabadell Sa (SAB) and Logitech International Sa (LOGN).
The top 10 holdings account for about 5.45% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
So far this year, ISCF return is roughly 33.05%, and is up about 34.25% in the last one year (as of 12/23/2025). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $30.25 and $41.81.
ISCF has a beta of 0.82 and standard deviation of 14.60% for the trailing three-year period, which makes the fund a medium risk choice in the space. With about 1123 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .
Alternatives
iShares International Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Small/Mid Blend ETF segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.
SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF (GWX) tracks S&P Developed Ex-U.S. Under USD2 Billion Index and the Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF (SCHC) tracks FTSE DEVELOPED SMALL CAP EX US LIQUID INDEX. SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF has $784.93 million in assets, Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF has $5.09 billion. GWX has an expense ratio of 0.40% and SCHC changes 0.08%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Foreign Small/Mid Blend ETF
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.