Is WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap ETF (EES) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Insights - The WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap ETF (EES) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Small Cap Value category and was launched on February 23, 2007 [1] - The ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by market cap weighted indexes, but smart beta strategies have emerged as alternatives for investors seeking to outperform the market through superior stock selection [2][3] - EES is sponsored by WisdomTree and has assets exceeding $615.56 million, aiming to match the performance of the WisdomTree U.S. SmallCap Earnings Index [5] Fund Details - EES has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.38%, which is competitive within its category, and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.33% [6] - The fund's top holdings include Valaris Ltd and Brighthouse Financial Inc, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 106.07% of total assets [7][8] Performance Metrics - As of August 20, 2025, EES has gained about 0.87% year-to-date and approximately 7.27% over the past year, with a trading range between $42.54 and $58.78 in the last 52 weeks [9] - The ETF has a beta of 1.10 and a standard deviation of 22.13% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Small Cap Value space include iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) and Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR), with IWN having $11.31 billion in assets and VBR having $30.67 billion [12] - IWN has a lower expense ratio of 0.24%, while VBR has an even lower expense ratio of 0.07%, making them potentially more attractive options for cost-conscious investors [12]