EES ETF: What Kind of Product Is It? Returns, Fees, Holdings and Alternative ETFs Explained
The WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Earnings Fund is a passive product that invests in profitable U.S. small caps, using earnings weighting to provide value-tilted small-cap exposure. Key points to check are fees, volatility and growth prospects, and comparison with other small-cap ETFs is the main selection criterion. The trading ticker is EES.
What Is the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Earnings Fund?
This is a passive factor ETF that tracks an earnings-weighted index of profitable U.S. small caps, reflecting the size of earnings rather than market capitalization. It excludes unprofitable companies and concentrates on small caps that generate earnings.
It suits investors who want diversified, value-tilted exposure to profitable small caps and are willing to accept small-cap volatility.
It is a passive (index-tracking) ETF managed by WisdomTree.
How Does the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Earnings Fund Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracked Index | U.S. small-cap earnings-weighted index |
| Management Style | Passive (earnings-weighted) |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Periodic (per index rules) |
| Dividend Frequency | Quarterly |
| Total Expense Ratio | 0.38% |
The fund tracks an earnings-weighted index that targets profitable companies among U.S. small caps and sets weights by the size of earnings rather than market capitalization. It excludes unprofitable companies and gives larger weights to companies with larger earnings, providing value-tilted small-cap exposure.
- Earnings-weighted approach that reflects the size of earnings
- Value-tilted small caps that exclude unprofitable companies
WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Earnings Fund Size and Costs (AUM and Management Fee)
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $690.6M, and the total expense ratio is 0.38% per year.
Unlike market-cap-weighted small-cap ETFs, this fund has a value tilt from earnings weighting, so its performance can diverge depending on whether growth small caps or value small caps are leading the market.
WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Earnings Fund Performance and Trends
Small caps react sensitively to the economy and to risk appetite. Thanks to its earnings-weighted, value-tilted approach, the fund can show relative strength when value small caps are in favor, but it may lag when growth small caps lead the market.
Money tends to flow into earnings-weighted small-cap ETFs when risk appetite and preference for small-cap value stocks rise, while in growth-led markets capital sometimes shifts to market-cap-weighted small-cap ETFs.
Pros and Cons of the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Earnings Fund
Its strength is diversification across profitable small caps with a value tilt, while its weaknesses are volatility and the possibility of lagging growth small caps.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Alternative ETFs and Related Products to the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Earnings Fund
VIG, SCHD, VYM and others shown in the table are ETFs focused on large-cap dividend stocks, so their character differs from small-cap exposure. For more small-cap investing, you can also compare IJR for core small caps, AVUV for a focus on small-cap value, and DES, the small-cap dividend ETF from the same issuer. They differ in weighting method, style and fees, so it is best to choose according to your investment profile.
| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwab US Dividend Equity ETF | $35.83 | +0.5% | $121.7B | 0.06% | 2.94% | +33.8% | |
| Vanguard Dividend Appreciation FTF | $249.89 | +0.3% | $116.7B | 0.04% | 1.46% | +15.0% | |
| Vanguard High Dividend Yield Indx ETF | $163.45 | +0.5% | $82.7B | 0.04% | 2.25% | +15.9% | |
| U.S. Core Equity 2 Portfolio-ETF Class Shares | $44.71 | -0.3% | $49.3B | 0.18% | 0.88% | +14.2% | |
| First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF | $79.36 | -0.0% | $25.6B | 0.47% | 0.86% | +17.0% |
| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OmniAb Inc | - | $5.10 | -3.8% | $743.9M | - | - | |
| VG | Venture Global Inc | 0.03% | $12.00 | +1.7% | $30.0B | 5.7 | 0.86% |
| Crescent Energy Co | 0.01% | $11.14 | +1.5% | $4.7B | - | 4.17% | |
| Organon & Co | 0.01% | $13.89 | +0.3% | $3.6B | 18.1 | 0.58% | |
| Garrett Motion Inc | 0.01% | $20.68 | -0.3% | $3.8B | 10.6 | 1.55% | |
| Matson Inc | 0.01% | $207.00 | -0.4% | $6.1B | 11.7 | 0.71% |
Investor Checkpoints for the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Earnings Fund
These are the points to review before investing in EES. As an earnings-weighted small-cap ETF, it is important to check volatility, style concentration, economic sensitivity and fee level in advance.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 💵 Expense Ratio | Check the fee level of the passive factor ETF | Needs checking |
| 📉 Volatility | Check for the large volatility typical of small caps | High |
| 📊 Style | Check the earnings-weighted value tilt | Value tilt |
| 🔄 Economic Sensitivity | Performance swings across the economic cycle | Sensitive |
As small caps, the holdings are more volatile than large caps, and the value tilt means the fund may lag in markets led by growth small caps. Investors should also consider that losses can widen during economic slowdowns or risk-off periods.
This is a passive ETF suited to investors who want to diversify into profitable small caps with a value tilt. If you want market-cap-weighted exposure, a core small-cap ETF may be the alternative, and if you want an earnings-weighted value tilt, EES may be the better choice.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
This article reflects information as of June 4, 2026.