The Schwab U.S. SmallCap ETF (SCHA) was launched on 11/03/2009, and is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to offer broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.The fund is sponsored by Charles Schwab. It has amassed assets over $17.23 billion, making it one of the largest ETFs attempting to match the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.Why Small Cap BlendThere's a lot of potential to investing in small cap companies, but with market capitalization below $2 billion, that high potential comes with even higher risk.Blend ETFs usually hold a mix of growth and value stocks as well as stocks that exhibit both value and growth characteristics.CostsCost is an important factor in selecting the right ETF, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts if all other fundamentals are the same.Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.04%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.99%.Performance and RiskSCHA seeks to match the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index before fees and expenses. The Dow Jones U.S. Small-Cap Total Stock Market Index includes the small-cap portion of the Dow Jones U.S. Total Stock Market Index actually available to investors in the marketplace.The ETF return is roughly 20.08% so far this year and was up about 51.17% in the last one year (as of 10/29/2021). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $69.82 and $105.82.The ETF has a beta of 1.24 and standard deviation of 28.45% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 1862 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.AlternativesSchwab U.S. SmallCap ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, SCHA is an excellent option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Small Cap Blend segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and the iShares Core S&P SmallCap ETF (IJR) track a similar index. While iShares Russell 2000 ETF has $70.74 billion in assets, iShares Core S&P SmallCap ETF has $71.59 billion. IWM has an expense ratio of 0.19% and IJR charges 0.06%.Bottom-LineWhile an excellent vehicle for long term investors, passively managed ETFs are a popular choice among institutional and retail investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency.To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center. Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks’ free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week.Get it free >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Schwab U.S. SmallCap ETF (SCHA): ETF Research Reports Alcoa (AA): Free Stock Analysis Report The Aaron's Company, Inc. (AAN): Free Stock Analysis Report American Assets Trust, Inc. (AAT): Free Stock Analysis Report iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM): ETF Research Reports iShares Core S&P SmallCap ETF (IJR): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here.