IWM vs. VTIP
IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) and VTIP (Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IWM is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 2000 Index, while VTIP is a Inflation-Protected Bonds fund tracking the Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) 0-5 Year Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IWM returned 11.27%/yr vs 3.09%/yr for VTIP. At a 0.07 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. IWM charges 0.19%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VTIP.
Performance
IWM vs. VTIP - 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 VTIP's 1.85% return. Over the past 10 years, IWM has outperformed VTIP with an annualized return of 11.27%, while VTIP has yielded a comparatively lower 3.09% 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%
VTIP
- 1D
- -0.04%
- 1M
- -0.12%
- YTD
- 1.85%
- 6M
- 1.95%
- 1Y
- 4.51%
- 3Y*
- 5.25%
- 5Y*
- 3.37%
- 10Y*
- 3.09%
IWM vs. VTIP - 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% |
VTIP Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF | 1.85% | 6.07% | 4.74% | 4.62% | -2.94% | 5.36% | 4.95% | 4.86% | 0.56% | 0.82% |
Correlation
The correlation between IWM and VTIP is 0.00, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.00 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.12 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.14 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.09 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 16, 2012 | 0.07 |
The correlation between IWM and VTIP shifts across timeframes, from 0.00 (1 year) to 0.14 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IWM vs. VTIP — Risk / Return Rank
IWM
VTIP
IWM vs. VTIP - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (VTIP). 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 | VTIP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.07 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -2.49 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 1.65 | -0.32 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.57 | 6.57 | -3.00 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.63 | 25.36 | -12.74 |
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Drawdowns
IWM vs. VTIP - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWM drawdown since its inception was -59.05%, which is greater than VTIP's maximum drawdown of -6.27%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWM and VTIP.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWM | VTIP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.05% | -6.27% | -52.78% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.03% | -0.70% | -10.33% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.50% | -0.98% | -26.52% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.91% | -5.50% | -26.41% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.13% | -6.27% | -34.86% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -0.22% | +0.22% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.76% | -1.04% | -9.72% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.12% | 0.18% | +2.94% |
Volatility
IWM vs. VTIP - Volatility Comparison
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a higher volatility of 7.16% compared to Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF (VTIP) at 0.40%. This indicates that IWM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTIP based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWM | VTIP | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.16% | 0.40% | +6.76% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.29% | 1.04% | +13.25% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.73% | 1.50% | +18.23% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.61% | 2.77% | +19.84% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.08% | 2.74% | +20.34% |
IWM vs. VTIP - Expense Ratio Comparison
IWM has a 0.19% expense ratio, which is higher than VTIP's 0.03% 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. VTIP - Dividend Comparison
IWM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.87%, less than VTIP's 3.59% 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% |
VTIP Vanguard Short-Term Inflation-Protected Securities ETF | 3.59% | 3.81% | 2.70% | 2.86% | 6.84% | 4.68% | 1.20% | 1.95% | 2.45% | 1.52% | 0.76% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IWM and VTIP have a correlation of 0.00, 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 VTIP (0.40%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IWM dropped -59.05% vs VTIP's -6.27%.
On 10-year performance, IWM leads with 11.27% vs 3.09% for VTIP. On fees, VTIP is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, VTIP has been the lower-risk option at 0.40%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IWM has performed better with a 11.27% return vs 3.09%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VTIP is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.19% for IWM.
VTIP has the higher dividend yield at 3.59%, compared with 0.87% for IWM.
IWM is categorized as Small Cap Blend Equities, while VTIP is Inflation-Protected Bonds. IWM tracks Russell 2000 Index, while VTIP tracks Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) 0-5 Year Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.19% for IWM and 0.03% for VTIP.
VTIP currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.07 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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