CARY vs. IWM

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

CARY (Angel Oak Income ETF) and IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - CARY is a Multisector Bonds fund actively managed by Angel Oak, while IWM is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 2000 Index. CARY is actively managed, while IWM is passively managed. Over the past 3 years, CARY returned 7.26%/yr vs 16.64%/yr for IWM. At a 0.16 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. CARY charges 0.80%/yr vs 0.19%/yr for IWM.

Performance

CARY vs. IWM - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Angel Oak Income ETF (CARY) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CARY achieves a 1.60% return, which is significantly lower than IWM's 15.62% return.

CARY

• 1D: 0.00%
• 1M: -0.18%
• YTD: 1.60%
• 6M: 2.15%
• 1Y: 6.71%
• 3Y*: 7.26%
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

IWM

• 1D: 0.87%
• 1M: -0.02%
• YTD: 15.62%
• 6M: 13.83%
• 1Y: 35.52%
• 3Y*: 16.64%
• 5Y*: 5.48%
• 10Y*: 10.78%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

CARY vs. IWM - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022
CARY Angel Oak Income ETF	1.60%	7.54%	6.93%	8.70%	0.70%
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF	15.62%	12.66%	11.38%	16.83%	-2.45%

Correlation

The correlation between CARY and IWM is 0.43, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.43
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.22
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 9, 2022	0.16

Over the past year, CARY and IWM have become more correlated (0.43) than their long-term average of 0.16, meaning their price movements have been converging.

CARY vs. IWM - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	CARY	IWM
Basic Materials	100.0%	4.5%
Financial Services	1.0%	15.6%
Communication Services	-	2.1%
Consumer Cyclical	-	7.9%
Consumer Defensive	-	2.1%
Energy	-	5.8%
Healthcare	-	16.1%
Industrials	-	17.2%
Real Estate	-	5.6%
Technology	-	19.5%
Utilities	-	3.0%

Return for Risk

CARY vs. IWM — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

CARY

CARY Risk / Return Rank: 95
CARY Sharpe Ratio Rank: 96
CARY Sortino Ratio Rank: 97
CARY Omega Ratio Rank: 97
CARY Calmar Ratio Rank: 91
CARY Martin Ratio Rank: 93

IWM

IWM Risk / Return Rank: 63
IWM Sharpe Ratio Rank: 61
IWM Sortino Ratio Rank: 60
IWM Omega Ratio Rank: 54
IWM Calmar Ratio Rank: 71
IWM Martin Ratio Rank: 68

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

CARY vs. IWM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Angel Oak Income ETF (CARY) 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.

	CARY	IWM	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	3.79	1.83	+1.96
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	5.94	2.54	+3.40
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.85	1.30	+0.54
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	5.27	3.24	+2.03
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	22.77	11.44	+11.33
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

CARY vs. IWM - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CARY Sharpe Ratio is 3.79, which is higher than the IWM Sharpe Ratio of 1.83. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CARY and IWM, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	CARY	IWM	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.79	1.83	+1.96
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.24	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.47	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	2.62	0.36	+2.26

Drawdowns

CARY vs. IWM - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CARY drawdown since its inception was -1.96%, smaller than the maximum IWM drawdown of -59.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CARY and IWM.

Drawdown Indicators

	CARY	IWM	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-1.96%	-59.05%	+57.09%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-1.28%	-11.03%	+9.75%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-1.96%	-27.50%	+25.54%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-31.91%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-41.13%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.29%	-2.71%	+2.42%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-0.32%	-10.76%	+10.44%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	0.30%	3.11%	-2.81%

Volatility

CARY vs. IWM - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Angel Oak Income ETF (CARY) is 0.61%, while iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a volatility of 6.52%. This indicates that CARY experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IWM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CARY	IWM	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	0.61%	6.52%	-5.91%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	1.33%	14.00%	-12.67%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.78%	19.53%	-17.75%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	2.73%	22.58%	-19.85%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	2.73%	23.07%	-20.34%

CARY vs. IWM - Expense Ratio Comparison

CARY has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than IWM's 0.19% expense ratio.

Dividends

CARY vs. IWM - Dividend Comparison

CARY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.94%, more than IWM's 0.89% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
CARY Angel Oak Income ETF	5.94%	6.13%	6.10%	6.38%	0.48%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF	0.89%	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

Can I hold both CARY and IWM in my portfolio?

CARY and IWM have a correlation of 0.43, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, CARY or IWM?

IWM has higher volatility (6.52%) compared to CARY (0.61%). In terms of maximum drawdown, CARY dropped -1.96% vs IWM's -59.05%.

Which ETF is better, CARY or IWM?

On 3-year performance, IWM leads with 16.64% vs 7.26% for CARY. On fees, IWM is cheaper at 0.19% per year. On volatility, CARY has been the lower-risk option at 0.61%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, CARY or IWM?

Over the 3-year period, IWM has performed better with a 16.64% return vs 7.26%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, CARY or IWM?

IWM is cheaper with a 0.19% expense ratio, compared with 0.80% for CARY.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, CARY or IWM?

CARY has the higher dividend yield at 5.94%, compared with 0.89% for IWM.

What is the main difference between CARY and IWM?

CARY is categorized as Multisector Bonds, while IWM is Small Cap Blend Equities. They also come from different issuers: Angel Oak and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.80% for CARY and 0.19% for IWM.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

CARY currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.79 vs 1.83), 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.