IWR vs. MRK
IWR (iShares Russell Midcap ETF) is Mid Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Russell Midcap Index, while MRK (Merck & Co., Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, IWR returned 11.79%/yr vs 11.59%/yr for MRK. At a 0.41 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IWR vs. MRK - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWR achieves a 13.23% return, which is significantly lower than MRK's 13.94% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IWR having a 11.79% annualized return and MRK not far behind at 11.59%.
IWR
- 1D
- 0.93%
- 1M
- 3.80%
- YTD
- 13.23%
- 6M
- 11.96%
- 1Y
- 21.77%
- 3Y*
- 16.40%
- 5Y*
- 7.99%
- 10Y*
- 11.79%
MRK
- 1D
- -1.42%
- 1M
- 4.94%
- YTD
- 13.94%
- 6M
- 20.60%
- 1Y
- 50.79%
- 3Y*
- 5.87%
- 5Y*
- 12.81%
- 10Y*
- 11.59%
IWR vs. MRK - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWR iShares Russell Midcap ETF | 13.23% | 10.37% | 15.21% | 17.05% | -17.48% | 22.44% | 16.93% | 30.23% | -9.10% | 18.25% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 13.94% | 9.79% | -6.26% | 1.01% | 49.42% | 1.75% | -7.20% | 22.27% | 39.95% | -1.49% |
Correlation
The correlation between IWR and MRK is 0.30, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.30 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.20 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.19 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.28 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 20, 2001 | 0.41 |
The correlation between IWR and MRK shifts across timeframes, from 0.19 (5 years) to 0.41 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IWR vs. MRK — Risk / Return Rank
IWR
MRK
IWR vs. MRK - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR) and Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK). 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.
| IWR | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.30 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.52 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.33 | -0.06 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.68 | 4.49 | -1.81 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.26 | 11.22 | -0.96 |
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Drawdowns
IWR vs. MRK - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWR drawdown since its inception was -58.78%, smaller than the maximum MRK drawdown of -68.61%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWR and MRK.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWR | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.78% | -68.61% | +9.83% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.17% | -11.37% | +3.20% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.09% | -43.44% | +22.35% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.18% | -43.44% | +17.26% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.59% | -43.44% | +2.85% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -5.03% | +5.03% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.80% | -18.83% | +11.03% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.13% | 4.54% | -2.41% |
Volatility
IWR vs. MRK - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR) is 4.49%, while Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) has a volatility of 9.57%. This indicates that IWR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than MRK based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWR | MRK | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.49% | 9.57% | -5.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.34% | 18.04% | -7.70% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.79% | 27.18% | -13.39% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.28% | 23.66% | -5.38% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.38% | 22.96% | -3.58% |
Dividends
IWR vs. MRK - Dividend Comparison
IWR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.14%, less than MRK's 2.79% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWR iShares Russell Midcap ETF | 1.14% | 1.29% | 1.27% | 1.43% | 1.59% | 1.04% | 1.28% | 1.43% | 1.98% | 1.52% | 1.72% | 1.59% |
MRK Merck & Co., Inc. | 2.79% | 3.12% | 3.14% | 2.72% | 2.52% | 3.41% | 3.03% | 2.48% | 2.60% | 3.36% | 3.14% | 3.43% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IWR and MRK have a correlation of 0.30, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
MRK has higher volatility (9.57%) compared to IWR (4.49%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IWR dropped -58.78% vs MRK's -68.61%.
MRK currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.88 vs 1.59), 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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