IWQU.L vs. WSMDX
IWQU.L (iShares Edge MSCI World Quality Factor UCITS ETF USD (Acc)) and WSMDX (William Blair Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund) are both funds - IWQU.L is a Global Equities fund tracking the MSCI World Sector Neutral Quality Index, while WSMDX is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund managed by William Blair. Over the past 10 years, IWQU.L returned 12.96%/yr vs 12.85%/yr for WSMDX. A 0.52 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IWQU.L charges 0.25%/yr vs 1.10%/yr for WSMDX.
Performance
IWQU.L vs. WSMDX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWQU.L achieves a 7.37% return, which is significantly lower than WSMDX's 12.36% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IWQU.L having a 12.96% annualized return and WSMDX not far behind at 12.85%.
IWQU.L
- 1D
- -0.02%
- 1M
- -0.59%
- YTD
- 7.37%
- 6M
- 7.17%
- 1Y
- 19.67%
- 3Y*
- 17.54%
- 5Y*
- 9.83%
- 10Y*
- 12.96%
WSMDX
- 1D
- 0.36%
- 1M
- 0.62%
- YTD
- 12.36%
- 6M
- 9.84%
- 1Y
- 22.79%
- 3Y*
- 16.54%
- 5Y*
- 5.38%
- 10Y*
- 12.85%
IWQU.L vs. WSMDX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWQU.L iShares Edge MSCI World Quality Factor UCITS ETF USD (Acc) | 7.37% | 15.28% | 17.17% | 25.90% | -19.26% | 23.70% | 14.95% | 29.64% | -7.53% | 23.57% |
WSMDX William Blair Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund | 12.36% | 0.63% | 27.55% | 18.14% | -22.98% | 8.28% | 32.38% | 30.81% | -2.18% | 28.85% |
Correlation
The correlation between IWQU.L and WSMDX is 0.51, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.51 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.48 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.51 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.51 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 6, 2014 | 0.52 |
The correlation between IWQU.L and WSMDX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.48 to 0.52 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IWQU.L vs. WSMDX — Risk / Return Rank
IWQU.L
WSMDX
IWQU.L vs. WSMDX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Edge MSCI World Quality Factor UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (IWQU.L) and William Blair Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund (WSMDX). 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.
| IWQU.L | WSMDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.56 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.96 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 1.20 | +0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.30 | 1.88 | +0.42 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.47 | 6.84 | +2.64 |
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Drawdowns
IWQU.L vs. WSMDX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWQU.L drawdown since its inception was -33.05%, smaller than the maximum WSMDX drawdown of -50.33%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWQU.L and WSMDX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWQU.L | WSMDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -33.05% | -50.33% | +17.28% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.53% | -11.50% | +2.97% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -16.09% | -25.63% | +9.54% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -27.70% | -36.89% | +9.19% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.05% | -36.89% | +3.84% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.21% | -1.44% | -0.77% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -4.57% | -8.44% | +3.87% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.07% | 3.15% | -1.08% |
Volatility
IWQU.L vs. WSMDX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Edge MSCI World Quality Factor UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (IWQU.L) is 3.28%, while William Blair Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund (WSMDX) has a volatility of 6.69%. This indicates that IWQU.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than WSMDX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWQU.L | WSMDX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.28% | 6.69% | -3.41% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.22% | 15.12% | -5.90% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 11.54% | 19.07% | -7.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.61% | 23.18% | -7.57% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 15.69% | 21.97% | -6.28% |
IWQU.L vs. WSMDX - Expense Ratio Comparison
IWQU.L has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is lower than WSMDX's 1.10% expense ratio.
Dividends
IWQU.L vs. WSMDX - Dividend Comparison
IWQU.L has not paid dividends to shareholders, while WSMDX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.50%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWQU.L iShares Edge MSCI World Quality Factor UCITS ETF USD (Acc) | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
WSMDX William Blair Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund | 2.50% | 2.81% | 24.90% | 7.89% | 3.34% | 9.30% | 1.66% | 7.13% | 8.88% | 5.33% | 2.64% | 5.31% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IWQU.L and WSMDX have a correlation of 0.51, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
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