IWM vs. WM
IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) is Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 2000 Index, while WM (Waste Management, Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, IWM returned 11.27%/yr vs 15.36%/yr for WM. At a 0.43 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IWM vs. WM - 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 WM's 0.71% return. Over the past 10 years, IWM has underperformed WM with an annualized return of 11.27%, while WM has yielded a comparatively higher 15.36% annualized 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%
WM
- 1D
- 0.30%
- 1M
- 0.26%
- YTD
- 0.71%
- 6M
- 2.63%
- 1Y
- -5.72%
- 3Y*
- 12.33%
- 5Y*
- 11.14%
- 10Y*
- 15.36%
IWM vs. WM - 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% |
WM Waste Management, Inc. | 0.71% | 10.50% | 14.28% | 16.20% | -4.49% | 43.82% | 5.46% | 30.45% | 5.32% | 24.46% |
Correlation
The correlation between IWM and WM is -0.08, 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 | -0.08 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.08 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.29 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 26, 2000 | 0.43 |
The correlation between IWM and WM shifts across timeframes, from -0.08 (1 year) to 0.43 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IWM vs. WM — Risk / Return Rank
IWM
WM
IWM vs. WM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) and Waste Management, Inc. (WM). 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 | WM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.31 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.06 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.33 | 0.96 | +0.37 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.57 | -0.36 | +3.93 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 12.63 | -0.79 | +13.42 |
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Drawdowns
IWM vs. WM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWM drawdown since its inception was -59.05%, smaller than the maximum WM drawdown of -77.85%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWM and WM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWM | WM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -59.05% | -77.85% | +18.80% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.03% | -16.70% | +5.67% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -27.50% | -18.14% | -9.36% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.91% | -18.14% | -13.77% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.13% | -30.07% | -11.06% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -10.24% | +10.24% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.76% | -17.69% | +6.93% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.12% | 7.58% | -4.46% |
Volatility
IWM vs. WM - Volatility Comparison
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a higher volatility of 7.16% compared to Waste Management, Inc. (WM) at 6.13%. This indicates that IWM's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than WM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWM | WM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.16% | 6.13% | +1.03% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.29% | 14.08% | +0.21% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.73% | 19.03% | +0.70% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 22.61% | 18.62% | +3.99% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.08% | 19.54% | +3.54% |
Dividends
IWM vs. WM - Dividend Comparison
IWM's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.87%, less than WM's 1.61% 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% |
WM Waste Management, Inc. | 1.61% | 1.50% | 1.49% | 1.56% | 1.66% | 1.38% | 1.85% | 1.80% | 2.09% | 1.97% | 2.31% | 2.89% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IWM and WM have a correlation of -0.08, 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 WM (6.13%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IWM dropped -59.05% vs WM's -77.85%.
IWM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.99 vs -0.32), 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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