DIVB vs. IWM
DIVB (iShares U.S. Dividend and Buyback ETF) and IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - DIVB is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Morningstar US Dividend and Buyback Index, while IWM is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 2000 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, DIVB returned 12.19%/yr vs 6.11%/yr for IWM. Their correlation of 0.81 suggests significant overlap in exposure. DIVB charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.19%/yr for IWM.
Performance
DIVB vs. IWM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with DIVB having a 17.35% return and IWM slightly lower at 17.07%.
DIVB
- 1D
- -0.56%
- 1M
- 8.55%
- YTD
- 17.35%
- 6M
- 17.71%
- 1Y
- 29.81%
- 3Y*
- 22.07%
- 5Y*
- 12.19%
- 10Y*
- —
IWM
- 1D
- -1.37%
- 1M
- 3.52%
- YTD
- 17.07%
- 6M
- 15.83%
- 1Y
- 39.10%
- 3Y*
- 17.88%
- 5Y*
- 6.11%
- 10Y*
- 10.93%
DIVB vs. IWM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DIVB iShares U.S. Dividend and Buyback ETF | 17.35% | 15.09% | 18.59% | 13.27% | -10.51% | 31.29% | 10.78% | 32.72% | -8.16% | 5.95% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 17.07% | 12.66% | 11.38% | 16.83% | -20.48% | 14.54% | 20.03% | 25.39% | -11.12% | 4.33% |
Correlation
The correlation between DIVB and IWM is 0.74, 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 | 0.74 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.79 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.82 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 10, 2017 | 0.81 |
The correlation between DIVB and IWM has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.74 to 0.82 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
DIVB vs. IWM — Risk / Return Rank
DIVB
IWM
DIVB vs. IWM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Dividend and Buyback ETF (DIVB) 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.
| DIVB | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.59 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.88 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.47 | 1.34 | +0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.39 | 3.56 | +0.83 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.95 | 12.64 | +2.31 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| DIVB | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 2.65 | 2.05 | +0.59 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.80 | 0.27 | +0.53 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.48 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.76 | 0.37 | +0.39 |
Drawdowns
DIVB vs. IWM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum DIVB drawdown since its inception was -36.93%, smaller than the maximum IWM drawdown of -59.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for DIVB and IWM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| DIVB | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -36.93% | -59.05% | +22.12% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -6.82% | -11.03% | +4.21% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.45% | -27.50% | +12.05% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.08% | -31.91% | +10.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -41.13% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.56% | -1.49% | +0.93% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.99% | -10.77% | +5.78% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.00% | 3.10% | -1.10% |
Volatility
DIVB vs. IWM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares U.S. Dividend and Buyback ETF (DIVB) is 3.34%, while iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a volatility of 5.75%. This indicates that DIVB 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.
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Volatility by Period
| DIVB | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.34% | 5.75% | -2.41% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 8.44% | 13.53% | -5.09% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.33% | 19.20% | -7.87% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.23% | 22.52% | -7.29% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.38% | 23.04% | -4.66% |
DIVB vs. IWM - Expense Ratio Comparison
DIVB has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than IWM's 0.19% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
DIVB vs. IWM - Dividend Comparison
DIVB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.19%, more than IWM's 0.88% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DIVB iShares U.S. Dividend and Buyback ETF | 2.19% | 2.50% | 2.61% | 3.18% | 2.02% | 1.63% | 2.08% | 2.07% | 2.52% | 0.37% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0.88% | 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
DIVB and IWM have a correlation of 0.74, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IWM has higher volatility (5.75%) compared to DIVB (3.34%). In terms of maximum drawdown, DIVB dropped -36.93% vs IWM's -59.05%.
On 5-year performance, DIVB leads with 12.19% vs 6.11% for IWM. On fees, IWM is cheaper at 0.19% per year. On volatility, DIVB has been the lower-risk option at 3.34%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, DIVB has performed better with a 12.19% return vs 6.11%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IWM is cheaper with a 0.19% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for DIVB.
DIVB has the higher dividend yield at 2.19%, compared with 0.88% for IWM.
DIVB is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while IWM is Small Cap Blend Equities. DIVB tracks Morningstar US Dividend and Buyback Index, while IWM tracks Russell 2000 Index. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for DIVB and 0.19% for IWM.
DIVB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.65 vs 2.05), 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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