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SMLF

iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Multifactor ETF (SMLF)

Rating:66Neutral
Price Target:$94.00â–²(9.89% Upside)

SMLF, the iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Multifactor ETF, earns a solid overall rating thanks to several strong core holdings with healthy financial performance and growth prospects. Standouts like Medpace Holdings and nVent Electric support the fund’s quality through robust earnings and positive outlooks, while weaker names such as Guardant Health, with financial instability and valuation concerns, slightly weigh on the rating. The main risk is that many top holdings show signs of high valuations or bearish/overbought technical signals, which could make the fund more sensitive to market pullbacks.

Positive Factors
Strong Top Holdings PerformanceMany of the fund’s largest positions have shown strong gains this year, helping support overall returns.
Broad Sector DiversificationThe ETF spreads its investments across many different sectors, which can help reduce the impact if one industry struggles.
Low Expense RatioThe fund’s relatively low annual fee means more of the investment returns stay in investors’ pockets over time.
Negative Factors
Recent Short-Term WeaknessThe ETF has shown weak performance over the last one and three months, which may signal near-term volatility for small-cap stocks.
Heavy U.S. ConcentrationWith almost all assets in U.S. companies, the fund offers little geographic diversification and is highly sensitive to the U.S. economy.
Small-Cap Risk ProfileBecause the ETF focuses on smaller companies, it may be more volatile and sensitive to market downturns than large-cap funds.

SMLF vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

AUM
4.21B
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.15%
Beta
1.03
Issuer
iShares
Inception Date
Apr 28, 2015
Dividend Yield
0.99%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
STOXX US Small Cap Equity Factor Index

SMLF Summary

SMLF is the iShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Multifactor ETF, which follows the STOXX US Small Cap Equity Factor Index. It invests mainly in smaller U.S. companies across many industries, including technology, industrials, health care, and finance. Some well-known holdings include Williams-Sonoma and EMCOR Group. Investors might consider SMLF for growth potential and diversification, since small companies can expand faster than large ones and the fund spreads money across many stocks. A key risk is that small-cap stocks can be more volatile, so the ETF’s price can move up and down more sharply than the overall market.

How much will it cost me?

This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.15%, which means you’ll pay about $1.50 per year for every $1,000 invested. That’s lower than the average stock ETF, especially considering it uses a multifactor strategy rather than simple passive indexing.

What would affect this ETF?

This ETF focuses on U.S. small-cap companies across sectors like technology, industrials, health care, and consumer cyclical, so it can benefit if the U.S. economy grows, business investment rises, and smaller companies outperform larger ones. However, it could be hurt by higher interest rates, economic slowdowns that hit small businesses harder, or sector-specific challenges in areas like health care and consumer spending that affect its top holdings.

SMLF Top 10 Holdings

SMLF is powered by a diverse cast of U.S. small caps, with a tilt toward industrials, tech, and health care. On the upside, Williams-Sonoma, Reliance Steel, and Medpace are all rising, giving the fund a solid backbone across consumer, materials, and clinical services. Guardant Health has been a standout growth story, adding extra spark from the health care side. On the other hand, nVent Electric, Flex, and EMCOR have been lagging lately, acting as a bit of a speed bump. Overall, the fund is domestically focused but sector-balanced, avoiding heavy concentration in any single name.

SMLF top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
EMEEMEEMCOR Group0.83%$34.84M$29.75B1.03%73Outperform
NVTNVTnVent Electric0.66%$27.75M$20.39B8.18%76Outperform
PPEverpure0.59%$25.03M$42.31B15.28%64Neutral
WSMWSMWilliams-Sonoma0.70%$29.56M$29.77B33.50%75Outperform
JBLJBLJabil0.65%$27.32M$28.08B20.58%73Outperform
FLEXFLEXFlex0.59%$24.85M$31.95B34.68%74Outperform
RSRSReliance Steel0.63%$26.64M$22.26B58.65%74Outperform
GHGHGuardant Health0.52%$22.02M$23.99B83.54%61Neutral
MEDPMEDPMedpace Holdings0.51%$21.53M$18.24B10.81%79Outperform
THCTHCTenet Healthcare0.52%$21.89M$21.75B30.22%74Outperform

SMLF Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price85.54

Price Trends

50DMA85.57Negative
100DMA86.57Negative
200DMA83.02Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.07Negative
RSI52.40Neutral
STOCH66.37Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For SMLF, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 85.54 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 84.88, below the 50-day MA of 85.57, and above the 200-day MA of 83.02, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.07 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 52.40 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 66.37 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for SMLF.

SMLF Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

SMLF against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
SMLFSMLF$85.54$94.00(9.89% Upside)$4.21B0.15%66Neutral
FNDAFNDA$36.36$43.01(18.30% Upside)$8.91B0.25%68Neutral
FESMFESM$45.48$60.15(32.26% Upside)$6.85B0.28%64Neutral
VIOOVIOO$131.70$160.88(22.16% Upside)$4.14B0.07%66Neutral
CALFCALF$58.75$65.66(11.76% Upside)$3.84B0.59%65Neutral
XSMOXSMO$80.33$101.46(26.30% Upside)$2.81B0.35%67Neutral

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%30%SMLFFNDAFESMVIOOCALFXSMODec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
SMLF and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
SMLFiShares MSCI USA Small-Cap Multifactor ETF85.5413.1018.08%
FNDASchwab Fundamental US Small Co. Index ETF36.366.4221.45%
FESMFidelity Enhanced Small Cap ETF45.489.3625.91%
VIOOVanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF131.7024.6823.06%
CALFPacer US Small Cap Cash Cows 100 ETF58.7516.6939.67%
XSMOInvesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF80.339.3913.23%
Glossary
BuyAn ETF rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldAn ETF rated as a "Hold" s expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the ETF is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellAn ETF rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF may deliver lower returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer

This AI Analyst ETF Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in ETFs carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.