IWO vs. VB
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) and Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB).
IWO and VB are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IWO is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell 2000 Growth Index. It was launched on Jul 24, 2000. VB is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Small Cap. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. Both IWO and VB are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
IWO vs. VB - Performance Comparison
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IWO vs. VB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWO iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF | -2.82% | 12.90% | 15.04% | 18.51% | -26.27% | 2.54% | 34.68% | 28.48% | -9.43% | 22.25% |
VB Vanguard Small-Cap ETF | 1.92% | 8.87% | 14.17% | 18.22% | -17.51% | 17.57% | 19.19% | 27.34% | -9.34% | 16.26% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWO achieves a -2.82% return, which is significantly lower than VB's 1.92% return. Over the past 10 years, IWO has underperformed VB with an annualized return of 9.67%, while VB has yielded a comparatively higher 10.51% annualized return.
IWO
- 1D
- 4.25%
- 1M
- -6.37%
- YTD
- -2.82%
- 6M
- -1.70%
- 1Y
- 23.40%
- 3Y*
- 12.18%
- 5Y*
- 1.22%
- 10Y*
- 9.67%
VB
- 1D
- 3.18%
- 1M
- -5.13%
- YTD
- 1.92%
- 6M
- 3.76%
- 1Y
- 19.75%
- 3Y*
- 13.04%
- 5Y*
- 5.35%
- 10Y*
- 10.51%
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IWO vs. VB - Expense Ratio Comparison
IWO has a 0.24% expense ratio, which is higher than VB'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
IWO vs. VB — Risk / Return Rank
IWO
VB
IWO vs. VB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) and Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB). 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.
| IWO | VB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.93 | 0.91 | +0.02 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.44 | 1.41 | +0.04 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.19 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.51 | 1.39 | +0.12 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.11 | 5.97 | -0.86 |
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
| IWO | VB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.93 | 0.91 | +0.02 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.05 | 0.26 | -0.21 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.40 | 0.49 | -0.09 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.25 | 0.42 | -0.16 |
Correlation
The correlation between IWO and VB is 0.96, 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
IWO vs. VB - Dividend Comparison
IWO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.48%, less than VB's 1.34% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWO iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF | 0.48% | 0.56% | 0.80% | 0.73% | 0.73% | 0.32% | 0.44% | 0.71% | 0.76% | 0.73% | 0.97% | 0.89% |
VB Vanguard Small-Cap ETF | 1.34% | 1.33% | 1.30% | 1.55% | 1.59% | 1.24% | 1.14% | 1.39% | 1.67% | 1.35% | 1.50% | 1.48% |
Drawdowns
IWO vs. VB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWO drawdown since its inception was -60.11%, roughly equal to the maximum VB drawdown of -59.56%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWO and VB.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWO | VB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -60.11% | -59.56% | -0.55% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.87% | -14.29% | -0.58% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -40.51% | -28.15% | -12.36% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.02% | -42.05% | +0.03% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.25% | -6.08% | -5.17% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -16.80% | -8.49% | -8.31% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.39% | 3.32% | +1.07% |
Volatility
IWO vs. VB - Volatility Comparison
iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) has a higher volatility of 8.73% compared to Vanguard Small-Cap ETF (VB) at 6.84%. This indicates that IWO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWO | VB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.73% | 6.84% | +1.89% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 16.53% | 12.60% | +3.93% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 25.23% | 21.86% | +3.37% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.47% | 20.78% | +3.69% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.06% | 21.40% | +2.66% |