Open navigation Sign in Create Account Open search INVESTING Advertiser Disclosure Best small-cap ETFs in December 2021 Westend61/Getty Images Written by James Royal and Brian Baker Dec. 1, 2021 / 4 min read Edited By Brian Beers Reviewed By Kenneth Chavis IV Share this page Why you can trust Bankrate More info While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. Are you looking for the next big thing in the stock market? There’s a chance it’s hiding among the small caps, because these smaller companies often remain overlooked by investors. One way to gain exposure to the entire segment of the market is to buy a small-cap ETF. Topics covered on this page: What is a small-cap ETF? Top-performing small-cap ETFs Are small-cap ETFs a good investment? What is a small-cap ETF? A small-cap ETF is an exchange-traded fund that invests in the market’s smallest companies through what are called small-capitalization, or small-cap, stocks. Small-cap ETFs give you an easy way to buy the small-cap “haystack” rather than search through it for the high performers. Small-cap stocks may sound small, but they’re not usually that tiny. The total value of all their shares outstanding is typically between a few hundred million dollars and a few billion dollars. That’s small for the stock market, though, where market capitalization can hit around a trillion dollars. Investors like small caps because they can offer higher potential returns than large-cap stocks, which are typically represented by the S&P 500 Index. However, because they’re smaller and have fewer financial resources, they’re often riskier and more volatile, too. Because of these risks, investing in individual small stocks is better left to more advanced investors. But even newer investors can buy a basket of these companies through a small-cap ETF and take advantage of the potential higher returns in undiscovered small stocks. Top-performing small-cap ETFs Bankrate selected its top funds based on the following criteria: U.S. funds that appear in ETF.com’s screener for small-caps (growth, value, blend) Funds among the top performers over the last five years Performance measured on Nov. 26, 2021 using the most recent figures Invesco DWA SmallCap Momentum ETF (DWAS) This ETF is based on stocks in the Dorsey Wright SmallCap Technical Leaders Index, which includes stocks with strong momentum. Year-to-date performance: 25.1 percent Historical performance (annual over 5 years): 18.7 percent Expense ratio: 0.60 percent Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF (XSMO) This ETF is based on the S&P SmallCap 600 Momentum Index, which includes 120 stocks in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index having the highest “momentum scores.” Year-to-date performance: 26.4 percent Historical performance (annual over 5 years): 18.3 percent Expense ratio: 0.39 percent Janus Henderson Small Cap Growth Alpha ETF (JSML) This ETF tracks the performance of the Janus Henderson Small Cap Growth Alpha Index. Year-to-date performance: 4.5 percent Historical performance (annual over 5 years): 17.5 percent Expense ratio: 0.30 percent First Trust Small Cap Growth AlphaDEX Fund (FYC) This ETF tracks the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Small Cap Growth Index, which includes stocks from the Nasdaq U.S. 700 Small Cap Growth Index. Year-to-date performance: 26.3 percent Historical performance (annual over 5 years): 17.4 percent Expense ratio: 0.71 percent Vanguard Small-Cap Growth ETF (VBK) This ETF tracks the performance of the CRSP U.S. Small Cap Growth Index, which is an index of small growth stocks. Year-to-date performance: 7.4 percent Historical performance (annual over 5 years): 17.2 percent Expense ratio: 0.07 percent iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Growth ETF (ISCG) This ETF tracks an index of small-cap U.S. growth stocks. Year-to-date performance: 1.5 percent Historical performance (annual over 5 years): 16.4 percent Expense ratio: 0.06 percent Invesco S&P SmallCap Value with Momentum ETF (XSVM) This ETF tracks the S&P 600 High Momentum Value Index, which is composed of 120 stocks with the highest scores on momentum and value factors. Year-to-date performance: 60.6 percent Historical performance (annual over 5 years): 15.8 percent Expense ratio: 0.39 percent Invesco S&P SmallCap 600 Revenue ETF (RWJ) This ETF is based on the S&P SmallCap 600 Revenue-Weighted Index, which re-weights stocks of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index by a company’s revenue. Year-to-date performance: 58.0 percent Historical performance (annual over 5 years): 15.6 percent Expense ratio: 0.39 percent Vanguard Russell 2000 Growth ETF (VTWG) This ETF tracks the return of the Russell 2000 Growth Index, an index composed of growth stocks of small U.S. companies. Year-to-date performance: 7.3 percent Historical performance (annual over 5 years): 15.3 percent Expense ratio: 0.15 percent iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) This ETF tracks an index of small-cap U.S. growth stocks. Year-to-date performance: 7.0 percent Historical performance (annual over 5 years): 15.3 percent Expense ratio: 0.24 percent Are small-cap ETFs a good investment? Investing in small-cap ETFs can provide attractive returns as long as they’re purchased at sensible prices, but there are some drawbacks to be aware of. Small-cap ETFs allow you to purchase a diversified portfolio of smaller companies for a relatively low cost. They also won’t require the extensive research that investing in individual companies does and can be added to your overall portfolio quickly to boost exposure to the small-cap universe. Small caps can generate high returns as they grow and become larger businesses. Many of today’s most successful companies started as small caps. But one drawback of investing in small-cap ETFs is that as the most successful companies grow, they move on from being considered small-cap and many funds are forced to sell them to stay in line with their investment objectives. You also won’t get the broad diversification that comes with other funds, so if an economic development negatively impacts the small-cap universe, you won’t be protected. Small-cap funds also tend to be more volatile than funds that hold larger, more established companies. Bottom line Small-cap ETFs are an attractive way to invest in some of the market’s fastest-growing companies at low cost without the same risks of buying individual stocks. But like all investments in the stock market, they aren’t without risk and other drawbacks. Learn more: How to start investing Best online brokers for beginners Best mutual funds Editorial Disclaimer: All investors are advised to conduct their own independent research into investment strategies before making an investment decision. In addition, investors are advised that past investment product performance is no guarantee of future price appreciation. Written by James Royal Senior investing and wealth management reporter Read more From James Bankrate senior reporter James F. Royal, Ph.D., covers investing and wealth management. His work has been cited by CNBC, the Washington Post, The New York Times and more. Edited by Brian Beers Senior wealth editor Reviewed by Kenneth Chavis IV Senior wealth manager, LourdMurray About our review board You may also like Best total stock market index funds Best ETFs to buy in 2021 Best index funds in December 2021 Bankrate About About us Press room Careers Advertise with us Site map Help Contact us Compare rates Latest news Popular topics Glossary Legal Privacy policy / California privacy policy Cookie Settings Do not sell my info Understanding Bankrate’s averages Terms of use GLBA annual notice Licenses How we make money Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. Bankrate is compensated in exchange for featured placement of sponsored products and services, or your clicking on links posted on this website. This compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear. Bankrate.com does not include all companies or all available products. Bankrate, LLC NMLS ID# 1427381 | NMLS Consumer Access BR Tech Services, Inc. NMLS ID #1743443 | NMLS Consumer Access Facebook Twitter Instagram Bankrate US | UK © 2021 Bankrate, LLC. A Red Ventures company. All Rights Reserved.