IWM vs. VSMAX
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX).
IWM is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell 2000 Index. It was launched on May 22, 2000. VSMAX is managed by Vanguard. It was launched on Nov 13, 2000.
Performance
IWM vs. VSMAX - Performance Comparison
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IWM vs. VSMAX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0.93% | 12.66% | 11.38% | 16.83% | -20.48% | 14.54% | 20.03% | 25.39% | -11.12% | 14.58% |
VSMAX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares | -1.21% | 8.83% | 14.23% | 18.17% | -17.61% | 17.74% | 19.06% | 27.36% | -9.33% | 16.24% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWM achieves a 0.93% return, which is significantly higher than VSMAX's -1.21% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IWM having a 9.76% annualized return and VSMAX not far ahead at 10.15%.
IWM
- 1D
- 3.50%
- 1M
- -4.96%
- YTD
- 0.93%
- 6M
- 3.02%
- 1Y
- 25.66%
- 3Y*
- 12.94%
- 5Y*
- 3.34%
- 10Y*
- 9.76%
VSMAX
- 1D
- -0.98%
- 1M
- -8.09%
- YTD
- -1.21%
- 6M
- 0.58%
- 1Y
- 16.07%
- 3Y*
- 11.85%
- 5Y*
- 5.02%
- 10Y*
- 10.15%
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IWM vs. VSMAX - Expense Ratio Comparison
IWM has a 0.19% expense ratio, which is higher than VSMAX's 0.05% 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%.
Return for Risk
IWM vs. VSMAX — Risk / Return Rank
IWM
VSMAX
IWM vs. VSMAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX). 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.
| IWM | VSMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.11 | 0.75 | +0.36 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.66 | 1.19 | +0.47 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.21 | 1.16 | +0.05 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.82 | 0.97 | +0.86 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.76 | 4.20 | +2.57 |
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
| IWM | VSMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.11 | 0.75 | +0.36 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.15 | 0.24 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.43 | 0.47 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.34 | 0.37 | -0.02 |
Correlation
The correlation between IWM and VSMAX is 0.98, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
IWM vs. VSMAX - Dividend Comparison
IWM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.02%, less than VSMAX's 1.38% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 1.02% | 1.04% | 1.15% | 1.35% | 1.48% | 0.94% | 1.04% | 1.26% | 1.40% | 1.26% | 1.38% | 1.54% |
VSMAX Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.38% | 1.33% | 1.30% | 1.56% | 1.54% | 1.24% | 1.14% | 1.39% | 1.67% | 1.35% | 1.49% | 1.48% |
Drawdowns
IWM vs. VSMAX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWM drawdown since its inception was -59.05%, roughly equal to the maximum VSMAX drawdown of -59.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWM and VSMAX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWM | VSMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.05% | -59.68% | +0.63% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.74% | -14.30% | +0.56% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.91% | -28.14% | -3.77% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.13% | -41.82% | +0.69% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -7.91% | -8.97% | +1.06% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.83% | -9.75% | -1.08% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.70% | 3.30% | +0.40% |
Volatility
IWM vs. VSMAX - Volatility Comparison
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a higher volatility of 7.47% compared to Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Admiral Shares (VSMAX) at 5.91%. This indicates that IWM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VSMAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWM | VSMAX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.47% | 5.91% | +1.56% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.47% | 12.22% | +2.25% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.18% | 21.62% | +1.56% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.55% | 20.69% | +1.86% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.99% | 21.52% | +1.47% |