A side-by-side comparison of Principal U.S. Small-Cap Multi-Factor ETF (PSC) and Vanguard Russell 2000 Index Fund ETF Shares (VTWO) 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 | PSC | VTWO |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +0.32%✓ | -3.76% |
| 1-Day Change | +0.32% | +0.38%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | -0.71%✓ | -0.98% |
| 1-Month Change | -2.09% | -4.09%✓ |
| Current Price | $66.94 | $112.67 |
| AUM | $2.72B | $16.70B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.38% | 0.1%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 0.52% | 1.10%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | NA |
| Inception Date | 2016-09-21 | 2010-09-20 |
| Holdings Count | 50 | 48 |
| MorningStar Rating | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
| Category | Small Blend | Small Blend |
| Beta | 1.09 | 1.24 |
| 52-Week High | $70.90 | $122.96 |
| 52-Week Low | $53.49 | $91.39 |
| 50-Day MA | $68.74 | $118.65 |
| 200-Day MA | $63.81 | $111.54 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | PSC | VTWO |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +0.32%✓ | -3.76% |
| 1 Year | +20.27%✓ | +19.17% |
| 3 Year | +19.15%✓ | +18.35% |
| 5 Year | +9.10%✓ | +6.27% |
| 10 Year | +11.57%✓ | +10.03% |
| 1Y Volatility | 14.31% | 15.15% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 0.76 | 0.69 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | TXG | 10X Genomics Inc | 1.26% |
| 2 | TWST | Twist Bioscience Corp | 1.18% |
| 3 | ZETA | Zeta Global Holdings Corp | 1.01% |
| 4 | WT | WisdomTree Inc. | 0.96% |
| 5 | FRSH | Freshworks Inc | 0.83% |
| 6 | MRX | Marex Group plc Ordinary Shares | 0.82% |
| 7 | EAT | Brinker International Inc | 0.82% |
| 8 | BFH | Bread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 0.72% |
| 9 | FF60 | FIRSTCASH HLDGS INC.DL-01 | 0.71% |
| 10 | BKH | Black Hills Corporation | 0.68% |
| 1 | FROG | Jfrog Ltd | 0.34% |
| 2 | MOG-A | Moog Inc | 0.33% |
| 3 | UMBF | UMB Financial Corporation | 0.33% |
| 4 | GKOS | Glaukos Corp | 0.32% |
| 5 | EAT | Brinker International Inc | 0.31% |
| 6 | BTSG | BrightSpring Health Services, Inc. Common Stock | 0.30% |
| 7 | KRYS | Krystal Biotech Inc | 0.29% |
| 8 | CYTK | Cytokinetics Inc | 0.29% |
| 9 | PTGX | Protagonist Therapeutics Inc | 0.28% |
| 10 | TWST | Twist Bioscience Corp | 0.28% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | PSC | VTWO |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 4.44% | 4.48% |
| Communication Services | 2.44% | 2.26% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 8.95% | 8.87% |
| Consumer Defensive | 2.79% | 2.63% |
| Energy | 6.24% | 6.45% |
| Financial Services | 17.78% | 18.09% |
| Healthcare | 21.29% | 20.99% |
| Industrials | 11.65% | 13.27% |
| Real Estate | 5.44% | 6.48% |
| Technology | 16.33% | 13.76% |
| Utilities | 2.65% | 2.71% |
About PSC
Under normal circumstances, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of U.S. companies with small market capitalizations. For this fund, companies with small market capitalizations are those with market capitalizations within the range of companies comprising the Russell 2000 Index.
About VTWO
The fund advisor employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Russell 2000® Index. The index is designed to measure the performance of small-capitalization stocks in the United States. The advisor attempts to replicate the target index by investing all, or substantially all, of its assets in the stocks that make up the index, holding each stock in approximately the same proportion as its weighting in the index.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both PSC and VTWO are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, VTWO scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- 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 PSC and VTWO?
PSC (Principal U.S. Small-Cap Multi-Factor ETF) and VTWO (Vanguard Russell 2000 Index Fund ETF Shares) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($2.72B vs $16.70B), dividend yield (0.52% vs 1.10%), and year-to-date performance (+0.32% vs -3.76%).
Is PSC better than VTWO?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, PSC has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy PSC and VTWO on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both PSC and VTWO should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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