AXP vs. IWM
AXP (American Express Company) is a stock, while IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) is Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 2000 Index. Over the past 10 years, AXP returned 19.88%/yr vs 11.27%/yr for IWM. A 0.64 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
AXP vs. IWM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, AXP achieves a -11.56% return, which is significantly lower than IWM's 19.22% return. Over the past 10 years, AXP has outperformed IWM with an annualized return of 19.88%, while IWM has yielded a comparatively lower 11.27% annualized return.
AXP
- 1D
- 2.18%
- 1M
- 3.82%
- YTD
- -11.56%
- 6M
- -14.47%
- 1Y
- 14.27%
- 3Y*
- 24.40%
- 5Y*
- 16.02%
- 10Y*
- 19.88%
IWM
- 1D
- 0.87%
- 1M
- 5.53%
- YTD
- 19.22%
- 6M
- 16.00%
- 1Y
- 41.75%
- 3Y*
- 17.23%
- 5Y*
- 6.07%
- 10Y*
- 11.27%
AXP vs. IWM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AXP American Express Company | -11.56% | 25.99% | 60.32% | 28.67% | -8.52% | 36.88% | -1.14% | 32.52% | -2.62% | 36.22% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 19.22% | 12.66% | 11.38% | 16.83% | -20.48% | 14.54% | 20.03% | 25.39% | -11.12% | 14.58% |
Correlation
The correlation between AXP and IWM is 0.60, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.60 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.62 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.67 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.66 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 26, 2000 | 0.64 |
The correlation between AXP and IWM has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.60 to 0.67 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
AXP vs. IWM — Risk / Return Rank
AXP
IWM
AXP vs. IWM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for American Express Company (AXP) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| AXP | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.60 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.05 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.09 | 1.33 | -0.24 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 0.44 | 3.57 | -3.13 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 0.93 | 12.63 | -11.70 |
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Drawdowns
AXP vs. IWM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum AXP drawdown since its inception was -83.91%, which is greater than IWM's maximum drawdown of -59.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for AXP and IWM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| AXP | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -83.91% | -59.05% | -24.86% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -23.90% | -11.03% | -12.87% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -28.76% | -27.50% | -1.26% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.55% | -31.91% | +0.36% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -49.64% | -41.13% | -8.51% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -14.99% | 0.00% | -14.99% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -22.05% | -10.76% | -11.29% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 11.15% | 3.12% | +8.03% |
Volatility
AXP vs. IWM - Volatility Comparison
American Express Company (AXP) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) have volatilities of 6.90% and 7.16%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| AXP | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.90% | 7.16% | -0.26% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 20.01% | 14.29% | +5.72% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 26.46% | 19.73% | +6.73% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 29.50% | 22.61% | +6.89% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 31.83% | 23.08% | +8.75% |
Dividends
AXP vs. IWM - Dividend Comparison
AXP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.05%, more than IWM's 0.87% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AXP American Express Company | 1.05% | 0.85% | 0.91% | 1.24% | 1.35% | 1.05% | 1.42% | 1.29% | 1.51% | 1.32% | 1.61% | 1.58% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0.87% | 1.04% | 1.15% | 1.35% | 1.48% | 0.94% | 1.04% | 1.26% | 1.40% | 1.26% | 1.38% | 1.54% |
Frequently Asked Questions
AXP and IWM have a correlation of 0.60, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IWM has higher volatility (7.16%) compared to AXP (6.90%). In terms of maximum drawdown, AXP dropped -83.91% vs IWM's -59.05%.
IWM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.99 vs 0.39), 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.
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