^XAX vs. IWC
^XAX (NYSE American Composite Index) is an index, while IWC (iShares Micro-Cap ETF) is Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell Microcap Index. Over the past 10 years, ^XAX returned 14.18%/yr vs 11.35%/yr for IWC. A 0.59 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
^XAX vs. IWC - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, ^XAX achieves a 27.43% return, which is significantly higher than IWC's 18.97% return. Over the past 10 years, ^XAX has outperformed IWC with an annualized return of 14.18%, while IWC has yielded a comparatively lower 11.35% annualized return.
^XAX
- 1D
- -0.14%
- 1M
- -2.59%
- YTD
- 27.43%
- 6M
- 19.70%
- 1Y
- 63.31%
- 3Y*
- 29.41%
- 5Y*
- 21.64%
- 10Y*
- 14.18%
IWC
- 1D
- -2.09%
- 1M
- 2.88%
- YTD
- 18.97%
- 6M
- 18.63%
- 1Y
- 55.24%
- 3Y*
- 21.73%
- 5Y*
- 5.45%
- 10Y*
- 11.35%
^XAX vs. IWC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
^XAX NYSE American Composite Index | 27.43% | 46.53% | 2.00% | 11.10% | 20.66% | 45.17% | -7.51% | 11.36% | -13.87% | 15.31% |
IWC iShares Micro-Cap ETF | 18.97% | 22.45% | 13.63% | 8.99% | -21.93% | 18.67% | 20.88% | 22.20% | -13.13% | 12.79% |
Correlation
The correlation between ^XAX and IWC is 0.31, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.31 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.39 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.46 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.53 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 17, 2005 | 0.59 |
Over the past year, the correlation between ^XAX and IWC has dropped to 0.31 - well below their long-term average of 0.59, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
^XAX vs. IWC — Risk / Return Rank
^XAX
IWC
^XAX vs. IWC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for NYSE American Composite Index (^XAX) and iShares Micro-Cap ETF (IWC). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| ^XAX | IWC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.71 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.67 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.50 | 1.37 | +0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 6.66 | 4.47 | +2.19 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 22.63 | 14.76 | +7.87 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| ^XAX | IWC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.07 | 2.36 | +0.71 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.97 | 0.22 | +0.74 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.65 | 0.47 | +0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.51 | 0.31 | +0.20 |
Drawdowns
^XAX vs. IWC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum ^XAX drawdown since its inception was -54.41%, smaller than the maximum IWC drawdown of -64.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ^XAX and IWC.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| ^XAX | IWC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -54.41% | -64.61% | +10.20% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.56% | -12.43% | +2.87% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.79% | -29.46% | +10.67% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -19.28% | -40.68% | +21.40% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -52.59% | -47.21% | -5.38% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.61% | -2.90% | -2.71% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.30% | -15.28% | +4.98% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.81% | 3.75% | -0.94% |
Volatility
^XAX vs. IWC - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for NYSE American Composite Index (^XAX) is 6.44%, while iShares Micro-Cap ETF (IWC) has a volatility of 7.29%. This indicates that ^XAX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IWC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| ^XAX | IWC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.44% | 7.29% | -0.85% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.08% | 17.26% | -0.18% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 20.77% | 23.63% | -2.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.54% | 24.42% | -1.88% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.85% | 24.42% | -2.57% |
Frequently Asked Questions
^XAX and IWC have a correlation of 0.31, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IWC has higher volatility (7.29%) compared to ^XAX (6.44%). In terms of maximum drawdown, ^XAX dropped -54.41% vs IWC's -64.61%.
^XAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.07 vs 2.36), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for ^XAX and IWC
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer