IAI vs. BUZZ

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

IAI (iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchanges ETF) and BUZZ (VanEck Social Sentiment ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IAI is a Financials Equities fund tracking the DJ US Select / Investment Services, while BUZZ is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the BUZZ NextGen AI US Sentiment Leaders Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IAI returned 14.44%/yr vs 7.60%/yr for BUZZ. A 0.67 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IAI charges 0.41%/yr vs 0.75%/yr for BUZZ.

Performance

IAI vs. BUZZ - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchanges ETF (IAI) and VanEck Social Sentiment ETF (BUZZ). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IAI achieves a 3.17% return, which is significantly lower than BUZZ's 13.20% return.

IAI

• 1D: 1.83%
• 1M: 3.22%
• YTD: 3.17%
• 6M: 2.78%
• 1Y: 19.26%
• 3Y*: 28.06%
• 5Y*: 14.44%
• 10Y*: 19.37%

BUZZ

• 1D: -0.27%
• 1M: -0.97%
• YTD: 13.20%
• 6M: 9.20%
• 1Y: 31.99%
• 3Y*: 31.61%
• 5Y*: 7.60%
• 10Y*: —

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

IAI vs. BUZZ - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021
IAI iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchanges ETF	3.17%	25.80%	34.37%	15.27%	-10.87%	20.67%
BUZZ VanEck Social Sentiment ETF	13.20%	30.61%	33.74%	54.64%	-47.67%	-4.47%

Correlation

The correlation between IAI and BUZZ is 0.65, 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	0.65
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.68
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.69
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 4, 2021	0.67

The correlation between IAI and BUZZ has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.65 to 0.69 - a consistent structural relationship.

IAI vs. BUZZ - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	IAI	BUZZ
Financial Services	99.9%	13.9%
Technology	0.1%	42.7%
Basic Materials	-	0.7%
Communication Services	-	14.6%
Consumer Cyclical	-	14.5%
Consumer Defensive	-	1.4%
Energy	-	2.5%
Healthcare	-	4.9%
Industrials	-	3.8%
Real Estate	-	-
Utilities	-	0.9%

Return for Risk

IAI vs. BUZZ — Risk / Return Rank

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

IAI

IAI Risk / Return Rank: 29
IAI Sharpe Ratio Rank: 31
IAI Sortino Ratio Rank: 30
IAI Omega Ratio Rank: 29
IAI Calmar Ratio Rank: 27
IAI Martin Ratio Rank: 27

BUZZ

BUZZ Risk / Return Rank: 27
BUZZ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 31
BUZZ Sortino Ratio Rank: 29
BUZZ Omega Ratio Rank: 29
BUZZ Calmar Ratio Rank: 25
BUZZ Martin Ratio Rank: 23

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.

IAI vs. BUZZ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchanges ETF (IAI) and VanEck Social Sentiment ETF (BUZZ). 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.

	IAI	BUZZ	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.00	0.99	+0.01
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.43	1.44	-0.01
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.18	1.18	0.00
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.17	1.05	+0.12
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	3.33	2.54	+0.79

IAI vs. BUZZ - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IAI Sharpe Ratio is 1.00, which is comparable to the BUZZ Sharpe Ratio of 0.99. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IAI and BUZZ, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

IAI vs. BUZZ - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IAI drawdown since its inception was -75.46%, which is greater than BUZZ's maximum drawdown of -56.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IAI and BUZZ.

Drawdown Indicators

	IAI	BUZZ	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-75.46%	-56.87%	-18.59%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-16.52%	-30.47%	+13.95%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-23.14%	-30.47%	+7.33%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-28.84%	-56.87%	+28.03%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-40.38%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.81%	-9.85%	+7.04%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-22.63%	-23.91%	+1.28%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	5.80%	12.65%	-6.85%

Volatility

IAI vs. BUZZ - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchanges ETF (IAI) is 5.98%, while VanEck Social Sentiment ETF (BUZZ) has a volatility of 12.00%. This indicates that IAI experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than BUZZ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	IAI	BUZZ	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.98%	12.00%	-6.02%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	15.34%	25.17%	-9.83%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.44%	32.59%	-13.15%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.48%	33.19%	-11.71%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	22.85%	32.88%	-10.03%

IAI vs. BUZZ - Expense Ratio Comparison

IAI has a 0.41% expense ratio, which is lower than BUZZ's 0.75% expense ratio.

Dividends

IAI vs. BUZZ - Dividend Comparison

IAI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.05%, while BUZZ has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
BUZZ VanEck Social Sentiment ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.50%	0.52%	0.40%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
IAI iShares U.S. Broker-Dealers & Securities Exchanges ETF	1.05%	0.95%	1.05%	1.80%	2.14%	1.31%	1.55%	1.52%	1.58%	1.37%	1.49%	1.31%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IAI and BUZZ in my portfolio?

IAI and BUZZ have a correlation of 0.65, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, IAI or BUZZ?

BUZZ has higher volatility (12.00%) compared to IAI (5.98%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IAI dropped -75.46% vs BUZZ's -56.87%.

Which ETF is better, IAI or BUZZ?

On 5-year performance, IAI leads with 14.44% vs 7.60% for BUZZ. On fees, IAI is cheaper at 0.41% per year. On volatility, IAI has been the lower-risk option at 5.98%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, IAI or BUZZ?

Over the 5-year period, IAI has performed better with a 14.44% return vs 7.60%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, IAI or BUZZ?

IAI is cheaper with a 0.41% expense ratio, compared with 0.75% for BUZZ.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, IAI or BUZZ?

IAI has the higher dividend yield at 1.05%, compared with 0.00% for BUZZ.

What is the main difference between IAI and BUZZ?

IAI is categorized as Financials Equities, while BUZZ is Large Cap Growth Equities. IAI tracks DJ US Select / Investment Services, while BUZZ tracks BUZZ NextGen AI US Sentiment Leaders Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and VanEck. Their fees differ too: 0.41% for IAI and 0.75% for BUZZ.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

IAI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.00 vs 0.99), 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.