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ISO.AX vs. SMLL.AX
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

ISO.AX vs. SMLL.AX

Last updated Jul 16, 2026
Documentation

ISO.AX (iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries ETF) and SMLL.AX (BetaShares Australian Small Companies Select ETF) are both Small Cap Blend Equities funds - ISO.AX tracks the iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index while SMLL.AX tracks the BetaShares Australian Small Companies Select Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, ISO.AX returned 1.90%/yr vs 2.39%/yr for SMLL.AX. A 0.76 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.

Performance

ISO.AX vs. SMLL.AX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a A$10,000 investment in iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries ETF (ISO.AX) and BetaShares Australian Small Companies Select ETF (SMLL.AX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with ISO.AX having a -9.91% return and SMLL.AX slightly lower at -10.24%.

ISO.AX

1D
-0.20%
1M
-4.80%
6M
-13.08%
YTD
-9.91%
1Y
4.17%
3Y*
6.97%
5Y*
1.90%
10Y*
5.50%

SMLL.AX

1D
0.49%
1M
-1.89%
6M
-13.55%
YTD
-10.24%
1Y
13.10%
3Y*
8.68%
5Y*
2.39%
10Y*
—
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

ISO.AX vs. SMLL.AX - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
ISO.AX
iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries ETF		-9.91%23.98%6.92%7.36%-18.61%16.08%8.74%20.36%-8.59%17.00%
SMLL.AX
BetaShares Australian Small Companies Select ETF		-10.24%33.20%2.52%4.79%-18.38%18.80%15.15%21.35%-10.00%13.67%

Correlation

The correlation between ISO.AX and SMLL.AX is 0.76, 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

0.76

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.73

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.77

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Apr 7, 2017

0.76

The correlation between ISO.AX and SMLL.AX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.73 to 0.77 - a consistent structural relationship.

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iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries ETF

BetaShares Australian Small Companies Select ETF

Return for Risk

ISO.AX vs. SMLL.AX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
ISO.AX
ISO.AX Risk / Return Rank: 1212
Overall Rank
ISO.AX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 1313
Sharpe Ratio Rank
ISO.AX Sortino Ratio Rank: 1212
Sortino Ratio Rank
ISO.AX Omega Ratio Rank: 1212
Omega Ratio Rank
ISO.AX Calmar Ratio Rank: 1212
Calmar Ratio Rank
ISO.AX Martin Ratio Rank: 1212
Martin Ratio Rank
SMLL.AX
SMLL.AX Risk / Return Rank: 2020
Overall Rank
SMLL.AX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 2323
Sharpe Ratio Rank
SMLL.AX Sortino Ratio Rank: 2222
Sortino Ratio Rank
SMLL.AX Omega Ratio Rank: 2222
Omega Ratio Rank
SMLL.AX Calmar Ratio Rank: 1919
Calmar Ratio Rank
SMLL.AX Martin Ratio Rank: 1717
Martin Ratio Rank
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.

ISO.AX vs. SMLL.AX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries ETF (ISO.AX) and BetaShares Australian Small Companies Select ETF (SMLL.AX). 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.

ISO.AXSMLL.AXDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
0.22
0.66

-0.45

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
0.43
1.02

-0.58

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.05

1.13

-0.07

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

0.22

0.65

-0.43

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

0.48

1.32

-0.85

ISO.AX vs. SMLL.AX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ISO.AX Sharpe Ratio is 0.22, which is lower than the SMLL.AX Sharpe Ratio of 0.66. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ISO.AX and SMLL.AX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

ISO.AX vs. SMLL.AX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ISO.AX drawdown since its inception was -42.99%, which is greater than SMLL.AX's maximum drawdown of -40.17%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ISO.AX and SMLL.AX.

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Drawdown Indicators

ISO.AXSMLL.AXDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-42.99%

-40.17%

-2.82%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-18.29%

-20.00%

+1.71%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-18.29%

-20.00%

+1.71%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-26.29%

-25.98%

-0.31%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-42.99%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-14.36%

-16.46%

+2.10%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-11.88%

-8.47%

-3.41%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

8.61%

10.11%

-1.50%

Volatility

ISO.AX vs. SMLL.AX - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries ETF (ISO.AX) is 3.38%, while BetaShares Australian Small Companies Select ETF (SMLL.AX) has a volatility of 3.89%. This indicates that ISO.AX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SMLL.AX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

ISO.AXSMLL.AXDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.38%

3.89%

-0.51%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

15.37%

15.92%

-0.55%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

18.63%

19.71%

-1.08%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.09%

18.01%

-0.92%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

17.41%

18.16%

-0.75%

Dividends

ISO.AX vs. SMLL.AX - Dividend Comparison

ISO.AX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.39%, more than SMLL.AX's 1.90% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
ISO.AX
iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries ETF		3.39%1.90%1.83%2.72%8.08%6.81%2.50%7.22%2.14%2.10%1.08%3.26%
SMLL.AX
BetaShares Australian Small Companies Select ETF		1.90%1.15%1.35%1.69%3.92%5.80%2.13%2.33%4.20%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

ISO.AX and SMLL.AX have a correlation of 0.76, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

ISO.AX tracks iShares S&P/ASX Small Ordinaries Index, while SMLL.AX tracks BetaShares Australian Small Companies Select Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and BetaShares.

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