IWM vs. PAAA
IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) and PAAA (PGIM AAA CLO ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IWM is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 2000 Index, while PAAA is a CLO fund actively managed by PGIM. IWM is passively managed, while PAAA is actively managed. Over the past year, IWM returned 41.75% vs 5.10% for PAAA. At a 0.16 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. Both charge a 0.19% expense ratio.
Performance
IWM vs. PAAA - 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 PAAA's 2.14% return.
IWM
- 1D
- 0.87%
- 1M
- 5.53%
- YTD
- 19.22%
- 6M
- 16.00%
- 1Y
- 41.75%
- 3Y*
- 17.23%
- 5Y*
- 6.07%
- 10Y*
- 11.27%
PAAA
- 1D
- 0.00%
- 1M
- 0.30%
- YTD
- 2.14%
- 6M
- 2.42%
- 1Y
- 5.10%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IWM vs. PAAA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 19.22% | 12.66% | 11.38% | 3.83% |
PAAA PGIM AAA CLO ETF | 2.14% | 5.37% | 7.47% | 3.83% |
Correlation
The correlation between IWM and PAAA is 0.24, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.24 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 26, 2023 | 0.16 |
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Return for Risk
IWM vs. PAAA — Risk / Return Rank
IWM
PAAA
IWM vs. PAAA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and PGIM AAA CLO ETF (PAAA). 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 | PAAA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -8.94 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -18.65 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 6.66 | -5.34 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.57 | 29.67 | -26.10 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.63 | 183.78 | -171.16 |
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Drawdowns
IWM vs. PAAA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWM drawdown since its inception was -59.05%, which is greater than PAAA's maximum drawdown of -1.04%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWM and PAAA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWM | PAAA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.05% | -1.04% | -58.01% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.03% | -0.17% | -10.86% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.50% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.91% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.13% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.76% | -0.02% | -10.74% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.12% | 0.03% | +3.09% |
Volatility
IWM vs. PAAA - Volatility Comparison
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a higher volatility of 7.16% compared to PGIM AAA CLO ETF (PAAA) at 0.11%. This indicates that IWM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PAAA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWM | PAAA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.16% | 0.11% | +7.05% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.29% | 0.35% | +13.94% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.73% | 0.47% | +19.26% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.61% | 0.97% | +21.64% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.08% | 0.97% | +22.11% |
IWM vs. PAAA - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both IWM and PAAA have an expense ratio of 0.19%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
IWM vs. PAAA - Dividend Comparison
IWM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.87%, less than PAAA's 4.88% 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% |
PAAA PGIM AAA CLO ETF | 4.88% | 5.12% | 5.88% | 2.76% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IWM and PAAA have a correlation of 0.24, 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 PAAA (0.11%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IWM dropped -59.05% vs PAAA's -1.04%.
On 1-year performance, IWM leads with 41.75% vs 5.10% for PAAA. Both ETFs have the same 0.19% expense ratio. On volatility, PAAA has been the lower-risk option at 0.11%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, IWM has performed better with a 41.75% return vs 5.10%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IWM and PAAA have the same expense ratio: 0.19% per year.
PAAA has the higher dividend yield at 4.88%, compared with 0.87% for IWM.
IWM is categorized as Small Cap Blend Equities, while PAAA is CLO. They also come from different issuers: iShares and PGIM.
PAAA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (10.94 vs 1.99), 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.
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