IWR vs. EEM
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR) and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM).
IWR and EEM are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IWR is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell Midcap Index. It was launched on Jul 17, 2001. EEM is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. It was launched on Apr 11, 2003. Both IWR and EEM 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
IWR vs. EEM - Performance Comparison
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IWR vs. EEM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWR iShares Russell Midcap ETF | 1.27% | 10.37% | 15.21% | 17.05% | -17.48% | 22.44% | 16.93% | 30.23% | -9.10% | 18.25% |
EEM iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 3.80% | 33.98% | 6.49% | 8.95% | -20.56% | -3.63% | 17.02% | 18.22% | -15.31% | 37.26% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWR achieves a 1.27% return, which is significantly lower than EEM's 3.80% return. Over the past 10 years, IWR has outperformed EEM with an annualized return of 10.69%, while EEM has yielded a comparatively lower 7.58% annualized return.
IWR
- 1D
- 2.63%
- 1M
- -5.34%
- YTD
- 1.27%
- 6M
- 1.38%
- 1Y
- 15.79%
- 3Y*
- 13.14%
- 5Y*
- 6.77%
- 10Y*
- 10.69%
EEM
- 1D
- 3.73%
- 1M
- -9.25%
- YTD
- 3.80%
- 6M
- 7.87%
- 1Y
- 33.09%
- 3Y*
- 15.72%
- 5Y*
- 3.45%
- 10Y*
- 7.58%
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IWR vs. EEM - Expense Ratio Comparison
IWR has a 0.19% expense ratio, which is lower than EEM's 0.72% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
IWR vs. EEM — Risk / Return Rank
IWR
EEM
IWR vs. EEM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR) and iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM). 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.
| IWR | EEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.83 | 1.64 | -0.81 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.28 | 2.23 | -0.95 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.33 | -0.15 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.22 | 2.43 | -1.21 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 5.67 | 9.41 | -3.73 |
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
| IWR | EEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.83 | 1.64 | -0.81 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.37 | 0.19 | +0.19 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.55 | 0.37 | +0.18 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.47 | 0.35 | +0.13 |
Correlation
The correlation between IWR and EEM is 0.73, 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
IWR vs. EEM - Dividend Comparison
IWR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.28%, less than EEM's 2.14% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWR iShares Russell Midcap ETF | 1.28% | 1.29% | 1.27% | 1.43% | 1.59% | 1.04% | 1.28% | 1.43% | 1.98% | 1.52% | 1.72% | 1.59% |
EEM iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 2.14% | 2.22% | 2.43% | 2.63% | 2.50% | 1.99% | 1.45% | 2.76% | 2.24% | 1.89% | 1.89% | 2.49% |
Drawdowns
IWR vs. EEM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWR drawdown since its inception was -58.78%, smaller than the maximum EEM drawdown of -66.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWR and EEM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWR | EEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.78% | -66.43% | +7.65% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.38% | -13.52% | +0.14% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.18% | -37.82% | +11.64% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.59% | -39.82% | -0.77% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.75% | -10.30% | +4.55% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.85% | -16.12% | +8.27% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.89% | 3.49% | -0.60% |
Volatility
IWR vs. EEM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR) is 5.53%, while iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM) has a volatility of 10.70%. This indicates that IWR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EEM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWR | EEM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.53% | 10.70% | -5.17% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.46% | 15.12% | -4.66% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 19.07% | 20.23% | -1.16% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.25% | 18.43% | -0.18% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.35% | 20.32% | -0.97% |