IWM vs. MAIIX
IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) and MAIIX (iShares MSCI EAFE International Index Fund) are both funds - IWM is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 2000 Index, while MAIIX is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund managed by BlackRock. Over the past 10 years, IWM returned 11.27%/yr vs 9.74%/yr for MAIIX. A 0.66 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IWM charges 0.19%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for MAIIX.
Performance
IWM vs. MAIIX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWM achieves a 19.22% return, which is significantly higher than MAIIX's 9.04% return. Over the past 10 years, IWM has outperformed MAIIX with an annualized return of 11.27%, while MAIIX has yielded a comparatively lower 9.74% annualized return.
IWM
- 1D
- 0.87%
- 1M
- 2.99%
- YTD
- 19.22%
- 6M
- 16.00%
- 1Y
- 41.75%
- 3Y*
- 17.23%
- 5Y*
- 6.07%
- 10Y*
- 11.27%
MAIIX
- 1D
- 3.03%
- 1M
- 1.01%
- YTD
- 9.04%
- 6M
- 10.49%
- 1Y
- 21.60%
- 3Y*
- 16.56%
- 5Y*
- 8.50%
- 10Y*
- 9.74%
IWM vs. MAIIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
MAIIX iShares MSCI EAFE International Index Fund | 9.04% | 31.62% | 3.65% | 18.35% | -14.15% | 11.25% | 8.03% | 21.82% | -13.43% | 25.24% |
Correlation
The correlation between IWM and MAIIX is 0.72, 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 | 0.72 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.69 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.72 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.71 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 26, 2000 | 0.66 |
The correlation between IWM and MAIIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.66 to 0.72 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IWM vs. MAIIX — Risk / Return Rank
IWM
MAIIX
IWM vs. MAIIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and iShares MSCI EAFE International Index Fund (MAIIX). 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.
| IWM | MAIIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.66 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.81 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.24 | +0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.57 | 1.85 | +1.72 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.63 | 6.88 | +5.75 |
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Drawdowns
IWM vs. MAIIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWM drawdown since its inception was -59.05%, roughly equal to the maximum MAIIX drawdown of -61.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWM and MAIIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWM | MAIIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.05% | -61.05% | +2.00% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.03% | -11.31% | +0.28% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.50% | -13.68% | -13.82% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.91% | -29.31% | -2.60% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.13% | -34.01% | -7.12% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -0.94% | +0.94% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.76% | -15.33% | +4.57% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.12% | 3.04% | +0.08% |
Volatility
IWM vs. MAIIX - Volatility Comparison
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a higher volatility of 7.16% compared to iShares MSCI EAFE International Index Fund (MAIIX) at 5.32%. This indicates that IWM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MAIIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWM | MAIIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.16% | 5.32% | +1.84% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.29% | 12.98% | +1.31% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.73% | 15.66% | +4.07% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.61% | 16.25% | +6.36% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.08% | 16.67% | +6.41% |
IWM vs. MAIIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
IWM has a 0.19% expense ratio, which is higher than MAIIX's 0.09% 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
IWM vs. MAIIX - Dividend Comparison
IWM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.87%, less than MAIIX's 3.40% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
MAIIX iShares MSCI EAFE International Index Fund | 3.40% | 3.71% | 3.38% | 3.16% | 2.76% | 3.00% | 1.94% | 3.29% | 4.53% | 2.42% | 2.81% | 2.40% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IWM and MAIIX have a correlation of 0.72, 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 MAIIX (5.32%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IWM dropped -59.05% vs MAIIX's -61.05%.
IWM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.99 vs 1.34), 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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