ESGU vs USCL: Grades, Fees and Holdings Compared

iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF

ESGUANasdaq

iShares Climate Conscious & Transition MSCI USA ETF

USCLANasdaq

Overlap

75.0%by weight

Expense ratio

USCL −0.07pt a year

ESGU0.15%USCL0.08%

Avg volume · 30D

ESGU 29.6×the volume

ESGU389KUSCL13.1K

3Y return · a year

ESGU +1.6pt

ESGU+23.1%USCL+21.5%

ESGU vs USCL Performance

Oct 31, 2025 – Oct 30, 2026

+11.5%ESGU+7.3%USCL

Expense ratio: ESGU 0.15%; USCL 0.08%, better
Fund size: ESGU $17.8B; USCL $2.77B
1Y total return: ESGU +11.5%, better; USCL +7.3%
Yield (12M): ESGU 0.94%; USCL 1.06%, better
Holdings: ESGU 271; USCL 394
Avg volume (30D): ESGU 389K sh, better; USCL 13.1K sh
NAV per share: ESGU $165.22; USCL $85.14
52W range

ETF.net Grade

Pillar letters and Scores for ESGU, USCL, with each pillar’s weight
Pillar	ESGU	USCL
Cost30% weight	B68	A99Higher
Mission25% weight	A97	Not scored
Risk15% weight	C50	C52Higher
Tradability15% weight	A92Higher	A70
Holdings10% weight	B59Higher	D36
Durability5% weight	A95Higher	A70

Rank among US ESG & Values Index funds

How we build Categories ›

Same Category. ESGU and USCL are both graded against the same 47 US ESG & Values Index funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

US ESG & Values Index⁠

Category · 47 funds

See all 47 ›

ESGU ranks 4th and USCL 8th of 47 funds in the US ESG & Values Index Category.

Rank 1AKLMNInvesco MSCI North America Climate ETFScore 82
Rank 2AEFIVState Street SPDR S&P 500 ESG ETFScore 79
Rank 3ASNPEXtrackers S&P 500 Scored & Screened ETFScore 78
Rank 4AESGUiShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETFScore 76
Rank 5ADFSUDimensional US Sustainability Core 1 ETFScore 74
Rank 8AEVUSiShares ESG Aware MSCI USA Value ETFScore 73
Rank 8AUSCLiShares Climate Conscious & Transition MSCI USA ETFScore 73
Rank 10AESGVVanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETFScore 72

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

ESGUAiShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF

USCLAiShares Climate Conscious & Transition MSCI USA ETF

In short

ESGU Screening out companies is easy; keeping the market's shape while you do it is the hard part. ESGU's index optimizes toward stronger ESG characteristics while targeting risk and return similar to the broad MSCI USA Index.

USCL Most ESG index funds work by exclusion. USCL scores roughly 400 US large and mid caps on where they're heading instead: emissions intensity, reduction targets, green revenue. And it charges 0.08% a year to do it.

Stated mandate

ESGU Seeks to track an index of large- and mid-cap U.S. companies selected for favorable environmental, social and governance (ESG) characteristics while seeking risk/return similar to the MSCI USA Index.

USCL The Fund seeks to track an index of U.S. large- and mid-capitalization companies selected for their relative positioning on the transition to a low-carbon economy, using climate-related measures such as emissions intensity, reduction targets, green-business revenue, and climate-risk management.

Why people hold it

ESGU Not a screen-and-drop portfolio: the index optimizes toward better ESG characteristics while targeting risk and return similar to the broad MSCI USA Index.ishares.com
0.15% a year, below the typical fund in its US ESG group, spread across roughly 300 large- and mid-cap names rather than a narrow shortlist.
Running since 2016, a multi-billion-dollar iShares fund that pays quarterly and sits in the top quartile of a crowded US ESG peer group.

USCL At 0.08% a year, it matches the cheapest fund in its ESG cohort (XVV) and undercuts ESGV, SNPE, EFIV and ESGU.ishares.com
The index doesn't just screen out offenders. It selects on transition evidence: emissions intensity, reduction targets, green-business revenue, climate-risk management.ishares.com
About 400 US large and mid caps, so it reads as core equity exposure with a climate tilt, not a narrow clean-energy sector bet.
A multi-billion-dollar iShares fund that sticks tightly to the MSCI USA Extended Climate Action Index, one of the cleaner implementations in its peer group.

Worth knowing

ESGU Cheaper seats in the same row: XVV at 0.08%, ESGV at 0.09%, SNPE and EFIV at 0.10%, against 0.15% here.
Market-like risk is the stated goal, so exclusions are lighter than a purist ESG fund and the holdings end up looking a lot like the broad US market.ishares.com
MSCI's ratings decide who makes the cut, so the portfolio reflects one provider's definition of ESG, not an industry standard.ishares.com

USCL Trading is thin for a fund this size, so spreads can widen. Limit orders are the standard tool here.
Climate scoring reshapes the sector and name mix, so results can diverge from a plain US large-cap index in either direction.
Launched in 2023, so its history is short next to the older ESG funds it competes with.

Full ESGU profile⁠

Full USCL profile⁠

ESGU vs USCL Holdings

How ESGU and USCL differ

Overlap by weight

75.0%

Shared holdings make up 94.3% of ESGU and 89.3% of USCL.

Level by level

Holdings233 in both75.0%
Sector11 Sectors93.0%
Asset classEquity100%
Countryby domicile99.6%

Sector

Sector weights in ESGU and USCL, widest gap first
Sector	More in ESGUMore in USCL	ESGU	USCL
Technology	USCL +3.4 points	38.4%	41.8%
Financials	ESGU +2.3 points	11.9%	9.6%
Communication	USCL +2.0 points	8.5%	10.5%
Energy	ESGU +1.9 points	4.0%	2.1%
Consumer Discretionary	USCL +1.6 points	8.1%	9.7%
Industrials	ESGU +1.4 points	8.2%	6.8%
Real Estate	ESGU +0.4 points	2.1%	1.7%
Materials	ESGU +0.3 points	1.9%	1.6%
Consumer Staples	ESGU +0.4 points	4.6%	4.2%
Utilities	ESGU +0.2 points	1.8%	1.6%
Health Care	Same weight	10.6%	10.6%

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Country weights in ESGU and USCL, widest gap first
Country	More in ESGUMore in USCL	ESGU	USCL
United States	ESGU +0.5 points	99.8%	99.3%
Switzerland	USCL +0.2 points	0.0%	0.2%
Brazil	Same weight	0.1%	0.1%
China	Same weight	0.1%	0.1%
Mexico	USCL +0.1 points	0.0%	0.1%
Canada	Same weight	0.0%	0.0%
United Kingdom	Same weight	0.0%	0.0%
Ireland	Same weight	0.0%	0.0%

Concentration

Weight in the 10 largest Holdings

ESGU36.2%
USCL44.8%

Securities held

ESGU268
USCL391

Asset class

ESGU: Equity
USCL: Equity

Holdings

Only in ESGU35
In both233
Only in USCL158

Only in ESGU

35 securities, 5.7% of ESGU by weight

Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B0.46%
Texas Instrument0.42%
Steris0.35%
Cheniere Energy0.32%
Crowdstrike Holdings Class A0.29%
Kinder Morgan0.28%
Targa Resources0.24%
Sandisk0.23%
Crown Castle Inc0.23%
Raymond James0.22%
Caseys General Stores Inc0.20%
Phillips 660.18%
Devon Energy0.15%
Entergy Corp0.14%
Eqt0.14%
Royalty Pharma PLC Class A0.13%
Marathon Petroleum0.13%
Kroger0.12%
Sunbelt Rentals Holdings Inc0.12%
Dollar General Corp0.11%
Royal Caribbean Group0.10%
Resmed0.10%
Bloom Energy Class A0.10%
D R Horton0.10%
Synchrony Financial0.10%
Incyte Corp0.10%
Ares Management Class A0.09%
Emcor Group0.09%
Mongodb Class A0.08%
Axon Enterprise0.07%
Applovin Class A0.07%
Rocket Lab Corp0.07%
Alnylam Pharmaceuticals0.07%
Coeur Mining0.06%
Hologic Inc0.00%

Only in USCL

158 securities, 10.7% of USCL by weight

Walmart1.02%
Pepsico0.35%
Charles Schwab0.27%
Chubb0.18%
Waste Management Inc0.18%
Medtronic PLC0.17%
Emerson Electric0.17%
Blackstone0.17%
Marriott International Class A0.16%
Cvs Health0.16%
Vertiv Holdings Class A0.16%
Slb0.15%
Norfolk Southern Corp0.14%
T Mobile Us Inc0.14%
Cintas0.14%
Simon Property Group Reit Inc0.13%
Airbnb Class A0.13%
Monster Beverage0.13%
Aon PLC Class A0.12%
Boston Scientific0.12%
Comcast Class A0.12%
Kkr and Co Inc0.11%
Dominion Energy0.11%
Aflac0.11%
Natera0.11%
Realty Income Reit0.10%
Arthur J Gallagher0.10%
Southern0.10%
Duke Energy Corp0.09%
Republic Services Inc0.09%
Ebay0.09%
Fastenal0.08%
Eog Resources0.08%
American International Group0.08%
Consolidated Edison0.08%
Microchip Technology Inc0.08%
Ametek Inc0.08%
Becton Dickinson0.08%
Public Storage Reit0.08%
United Parcel Service Inc Class B0.08%
Paccar Inc0.08%
Everpure Inc Class A0.08%
Block Class A0.07%
Vivmark Residential0.07%
Illinois Tool Inc0.07%
Kenvue0.07%
Vulcan Materials0.07%
Vylor0.07%
Oreilly Automotive Inc0.07%
Honeywell Aerospace Inc0.07%

Weight gaps

The 100 widest of 233 Holdings in both funds.

Holding weights in ESGU and USCL, widest gap first
Holding	More in ESGUMore in USCL	ESGU	USCL
AppleAAPL	USCL +1.85 points	7.66%	9.51%
NVIDIANVDA	USCL +1.59 points	7.25%	8.84%
Alphabet Class AGOOGL	USCL +1.51 points	1.58%	3.08%
MicrosoftMSFT	USCL +1.21 points	5.71%	6.92%
Micron TechnologyMU	ESGU +1.03 points	1.50%	0.47%
Amazon.com IncAMZN	USCL +0.88 points	3.49%	4.37%
Meta Platforms Class AMETA	USCL +0.63 points	1.91%	2.54%
Hartford Insurance GroupHIG	ESGU +0.55 points	0.60%	0.05%
Broadcom IncAVGO	USCL +0.48 points	2.29%	2.77%
Alphabet Class CGOOG	ESGU +0.45 points	2.89%	2.44%
Eli LillyLLY	USCL +0.43 points	1.70%	2.13%
NisourceNI	ESGU +0.43 points	0.47%	0.04%
Johnson & JohnsonJNJ	USCL +0.43 points	0.81%	1.24%
Tesla IncTSLA	USCL +0.42 points	1.73%	2.15%
RtxRTX	ESGU +0.35 points	0.48%	0.13%
MetlifeMET	ESGU +0.31 points	0.36%	0.05%
ChevronCVX	USCL +0.29 points	0.12%	0.41%
EcolabECL	ESGU +0.29 points	0.43%	0.14%
Bank of New York Mellon CorpBNY	ESGU +0.29 points	0.43%	0.14%
Church and Dwight IncCHD	ESGU +0.27 points	0.32%	0.05%
Lowes Companies IncLOW	ESGU +0.27 points	0.38%	0.11%
Exelon CorpEXC	ESGU +0.27 points	0.36%	0.09%
Honeywell International IncHON	ESGU +0.26 points	0.36%	0.10%
Advanced Micro DevicesAMD	USCL +0.26 points	1.29%	1.55%
Palantir Technologies Class APLTR	USCL +0.25 points	0.50%	0.75%
Thermo Fisher ScientificTMO	USCL +0.26 points	0.23%	0.49%
Pnc Financial Services GroupPNC	ESGU +0.25 points	0.29%	0.04%
Cummins IncCMI	ESGU +0.24 points	0.34%	0.10%
L3HARRIS TechnologiesLHX	ESGU +0.24 points	0.29%	0.05%
Ww Grainger IncGWW	ESGU +0.24 points	0.30%	0.06%
UnitedHealth GroupUNH	USCL +0.23 points	0.46%	0.69%
Mastercard Class AMA	USCL +0.23 points	0.74%	0.97%
Costco Wholesale CorpCOST	ESGU +0.23 points	0.65%	0.42%
WilliamsWMB	ESGU +0.23 points	0.36%	0.13%
Mcdonalds CorpMCD	USCL +0.23 points	0.12%	0.35%
Prudential Financial IncPRU	ESGU +0.22 points	0.26%	0.04%
American Tower ReitAMT	ESGU +0.23 points	0.39%	0.16%
StrykerSYK	ESGU +0.23 points	0.32%	0.09%
Equinix ReitEQIX	ESGU +0.22 points	0.36%	0.14%
Idexx LaboratoriesIDXX	ESGU +0.22 points	0.30%	0.08%
Diamondback EnergyFANG	ESGU +0.21 points	0.27%	0.06%
Crh Public Limited PLCCRH	ESGU +0.21 points	0.32%	0.11%
Cardinal HealthCAH	ESGU +0.20 points	0.28%	0.08%
Northrop Grumman CorpNOC	ESGU +0.19 points	0.23%	0.04%
Verizon Communications IncVZ	ESGU +0.20 points	0.55%	0.35%
State StreetSTT	ESGU +0.20 points	0.24%	0.04%
Kimberly ClarkKMB	ESGU +0.19 points	0.26%	0.07%
Trane Technologies PLCTT	ESGU +0.18 points	0.35%	0.17%
Arch Capital GroupACGL	ESGU +0.18 points	0.23%	0.05%
Intel CorporationINTC	ESGU +0.18 points	0.45%	0.27%
SyscoSYY	ESGU +0.17 points	0.23%	0.06%
Automatic Data Processing IncADP	ESGU +0.18 points	0.40%	0.22%
Kraft HeinzKHC	ESGU +0.17 points	0.20%	0.03%
Merck & Co IncMRK	USCL +0.16 points	0.53%	0.69%
NetflixNFLX	USCL +0.17 points	0.32%	0.49%
CencoraCOR	ESGU +0.15 points	0.24%	0.09%
Mettler ToledoMTD	ESGU +0.16 points	0.22%	0.06%
Colgate-PalmoliveCL	ESGU +0.15 points	0.29%	0.14%
ConocophillipsCOP	ESGU +0.15 points	0.33%	0.18%
T Rowe Price GroupTROW	ESGU +0.15 points	0.17%	0.02%
AutodeskADSK	ESGU +0.15 points	0.25%	0.10%
Applied Material IncAMAT	ESGU +0.14 points	0.58%	0.44%
Goldman Sachs GroupGS	ESGU +0.15 points	0.52%	0.37%
CitigroupC	ESGU +0.14 points	0.34%	0.20%
General Mills IncGIS	ESGU +0.15 points	0.18%	0.03%
Mckesson CorpMCK	ESGU +0.14 points	0.30%	0.16%
Lam ResearchLRCX	ESGU +0.14 points	0.56%	0.42%
Expeditors International of WashinEXPD	ESGU +0.13 points	0.18%	0.05%
Morgan StanleyMS	ESGU +0.13 points	0.44%	0.31%
Ge VernovaGEV	ESGU +0.13 points	0.35%	0.22%
S&P GlobalSPGI	ESGU +0.13 points	0.40%	0.27%
CignaCI	ESGU +0.14 points	0.21%	0.07%
Fifth Third BancorpFITB	ESGU +0.13 points	0.15%	0.02%
Broadridge Financial Solutions IncBR	ESGU +0.13 points	0.17%	0.04%
Abbott LaboratoriesABT	USCL +0.13 points	0.13%	0.26%
Citizens Financial Group IncCFG	ESGU +0.13 points	0.14%	0.01%
Delta Air LinesDAL	ESGU +0.13 points	0.15%	0.02%
KlaKLAC	USCL +0.13 points	0.26%	0.39%
Occidental Petroleum CorpOXY	ESGU +0.12 points	0.19%	0.07%
Tractor SupplyTSCO	ESGU +0.13 points	0.15%	0.02%
Archer Daniels MidlandADM	ESGU +0.12 points	0.14%	0.02%
Jacobs Solutions IncJ	ESGU +0.13 points	0.16%	0.03%
Bristol Myers SquibbBMY	USCL +0.12 points	0.12%	0.24%
Us BancorpUSB	ESGU +0.12 points	0.21%	0.09%
Edwards LifesciencesEW	ESGU +0.12 points	0.22%	0.10%
Amgen IncAMGN	USCL +0.11 points	0.36%	0.47%
Eversource EnergyES	ESGU +0.11 points	0.16%	0.05%
Sba Communications Reit Corp ClassSBAC	ESGU +0.11 points	0.15%	0.04%
Nasdaq IncNDAQ	ESGU +0.11 points	0.20%	0.09%
Xylem IncXYL	ESGU +0.11 points	0.15%	0.04%
ProgressivePGR	ESGU +0.11 points	0.24%	0.13%
VeraltoVLTO	ESGU +0.11 points	0.16%	0.05%
Digital Realty Trust ReitDLR	ESGU +0.11 points	0.20%	0.09%
Agilent Technologies IncA	ESGU +0.11 points	0.20%	0.09%
Intuitive SurgicalISRG	USCL +0.11 points	0.11%	0.22%
Ppg IndustriesPPG	ESGU +0.10 points	0.15%	0.05%
Zoetis Inc Class AZTS	ESGU +0.10 points	0.16%	0.06%
Travelers CompaniesTRV	ESGU +0.10 points	0.18%	0.08%
Veeva Systems Class AVEEV	ESGU +0.09 points	0.18%	0.09%
Bank of AmericaBAC	USCL +0.10 points	0.36%	0.46%

All 268 ESGU holdings⁠All 391 USCL holdings⁠

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

ESGU vs USCL Cost

Overpaying ESGU vs USCL

$1,448

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

ESGU 0.15%
$3,137
USCL 0.08%
$1,689

Amount$10,000

Years30 years

Cost over time

ESGU 0.15%
USCL 0.08%
Overpaying

Year by year

Year	ESGU	USCL	Overpaying
10	$274	$147	$127
20	$1,071	$575	$496
30	$3,137	$1,689	$1,448

Expense ratio

0.15%ESGU
0.08%USCL, cheaper

USCL0.08%ESGU0.15%

0.08%0.95%

Middle half of US ESG & Values Index funds
Median 0.25%

USCL cheapest of 47 funds

ESGU 13th cheapest of 47 funds

ESGU vs USCL Dividends

Last 12 months to Oct 30, 2026

Yield (12M): ESGU 0.94%; USCL 1.06%, better
Payout (12M): ESGU $1.55; USCL $0.91
Last payment: ESGU $0.38; USCL $0.20
Ex-dividend: ESGU Sep 15, 2026; USCL Sep 15, 2026
Paid on: ESGU Sep 18, 2026; USCL Sep 18, 2026
Frequency: ESGU Quarterly; USCL Quarterly

Distribution history

Per share, 2017 to 2026, same scale for both

ESGUQuarterly · 41 paymentsAll ESGU payments⁠

USCLQuarterly · 13 paymentsAll USCL payments⁠

ESGU vs USCL Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

This chart needs five years of history for both funds.

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years: ESGU 12.8%USCL 12.5%, better
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years: ESGU 1.35, betterUSCL 1.28
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years: ESGU −26.1%USCL −19.0%since Jun 2023
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years: ESGU 1.04USCL 1.01; Market = 1

ESGU and USCL in the news

All news⁠

ETF Filings
iShares files for a screened MSCI USA ETF that omits ESG from the name
Sep 4, 2026ESGU

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ESGU vs USCL

In short

Stated mandate

Why people hold it

Worth knowing

How ESGU and USCL differ

Level by level

Sector

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Concentration

Asset class

Holdings

Only in ESGU

Only in USCL

Weight gaps

Cost over time

Year by year

Distribution history

Fall from peak · 5 years

Risk facts

iShares files for a screened MSCI USA ETF that omits ESG from the name

How ESGU and USCL differ

Level by level

Sector

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Concentration

Asset class

Holdings

Only in ESGU

Only in USCL

Weight gaps