A side-by-side comparison of Humilis US Focused Opportunities ETF (HIS) and iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF (ESGU) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | HIS | ESGU |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +7.07%✓ | +5.79% |
| 1-Day Change | +1.04%✓ | +0.63% |
| 1-Week Change | +2.34%✓ | +2.13% |
| 1-Month Change | +2.24%✓ | +1.39% |
| Current Price | $26.78 | $170.65 |
| AUM | $91M | $18.07B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | — | 0.15% |
| Dividend Yield | — | 0.93% |
| Distribution Frequency | — | NA |
| Inception Date | 2026-05-18 | 2016-12-01 |
| Holdings Count | 48 | 268 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | ★★★ |
| Category | Large Blend | Large Blend |
| Beta | 0.00 | 1.03 |
| 52-Week High | $26.93 | $171.09 |
| 52-Week Low | $24.39 | $136.22 |
| 50-Day MA | $26.11 | $167.24 |
| 200-Day MA | $25.72 | $157.29 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | HIS | ESGU |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +7.07%✓ | +5.79% |
| 1 Year | — | +16.19% |
| 3 Year | — | +22.91% |
| 5 Year | — | +12.53% |
| 10 Year | — | — |
| 1Y Volatility | — | 13.52% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | — | 1.30 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 8.50% |
| 2 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 7.79% |
| 3 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 7.28% |
| 4 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 5.58% |
| 5 | AMD | Advanced Micro Devices Inc | 5.44% |
| 6 | AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 5.05% |
| 7 | PANW | Palo Alto Networks Inc | 4.56% |
| 8 | UNH | UnitedHealth Group Incorporated | 3.22% |
| 9 | AVGO | Broadcom Inc | 2.90% |
| 10 | GILD | Gilead Sciences Inc | 2.55% |
| 1 | NVDA | NVIDIA Corporation | 8.12% |
| 2 | AAPL | Apple Inc. | 7.26% |
| 3 | MSFT | Microsoft Corporation | 5.55% |
| 4 | AMZN | Amazon.com Inc | 3.58% |
| 5 | GOOG | Alphabet Inc Class C | 3.46% |
| 6 | AVGO | Broadcom Inc | 2.44% |
| 7 | META | Meta Platforms Inc. | 2.21% |
| 8 | GOOGL | Alphabet Inc Class A | 1.91% |
| 9 | MU | Micron Technology Inc | 1.78% |
| 10 | AMD | Advanced Micro Devices Inc | 1.59% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | HIS | ESGU |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 0.89% | 1.76% |
| Communication Services | 10.03% | 9.16% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 9.84% | 8.08% |
| Consumer Defensive | 3.51% | 3.96% |
| Energy | 2.81% | 3.63% |
| Financial Services | 11.86% | 11.30% |
| Healthcare | 8.72% | 9.70% |
| Industrials | 5.62% | 7.67% |
| Real Estate | 0.80% | 1.97% |
| Technology | 43.05% | 41.10% |
| Utilities | 2.87% | 1.66% |
About HIS
Under normal circumstances, the fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in the securities of U.S. companies. It will invest primarily in equity securities (e.g., common stock) of large-capitalization U.S. companies (generally those among the 500 largest U.S. companies by market capitalization). It is non-diversified.
About ESGU
The fund generally will invest at least 90% of its assets in the component securities of the underlying index and may invest up to 10% of its assets in certain futures, options and swap contracts, cash and cash equivalents. The underlying index is an optimized equity index designed to reflect the equity performance of U.S. companies that have favorable environmental, social and governance (ESG) characteristics, while exhibiting risk and return characteristics similar to those of the MSCI USA Ind…
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both HIS and ESGU are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
HIS and ESGU are closely matched on the metrics we track. The right choice depends on your individual investment goals, tax situation, and time horizon.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between HIS and ESGU?
HIS (Humilis US Focused Opportunities ETF) and ESGU (iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($91M vs $18.07B), dividend yield (N/A vs 0.93%), and year-to-date performance (+7.07% vs +5.79%).
Is HIS better than ESGU?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, HIS has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy HIS and ESGU on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both HIS and ESGU should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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