IWR vs. RNMC
IWR (iShares Russell Midcap ETF) and RNMC (First Trust Mid Cap US Equity Select ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IWR is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Russell Midcap Index, while RNMC is a Mid Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Nasdaq Riskalyze Mid Cap US Equity Select Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IWR returned 8.11%/yr vs 5.04%/yr for RNMC. Their correlation of 0.85 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IWR charges 0.19%/yr vs 0.60%/yr for RNMC.
Performance
IWR vs. RNMC - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWR achieves a 13.02% return, which is significantly higher than RNMC's -1.02% return.
IWR
- 1D
- 0.52%
- 1M
- 3.28%
- YTD
- 13.02%
- 6M
- 12.45%
- 1Y
- 22.54%
- 3Y*
- 17.59%
- 5Y*
- 8.11%
- 10Y*
- 11.55%
RNMC
- 1D
- 0.52%
- 1M
- -1.92%
- YTD
- -1.02%
- 6M
- -0.96%
- 1Y
- -0.14%
- 3Y*
- 10.37%
- 5Y*
- 5.04%
- 10Y*
- —
IWR vs. RNMC - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWR iShares Russell Midcap ETF | 13.02% | 10.37% | 15.21% | 17.05% | -17.48% | 22.44% | 16.93% | 30.23% | -9.10% | 9.83% |
RNMC First Trust Mid Cap US Equity Select ETF | -1.02% | 1.77% | 14.98% | 16.81% | -9.11% | 26.08% | 5.71% | 28.00% | -12.85% | 10.74% |
Correlation
The correlation between IWR and RNMC is 0.81, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.81 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.89 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jun 23, 2017 | 0.85 |
The correlation between IWR and RNMC has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.81 to 0.90 - a consistent structural relationship.
IWR vs. RNMC - Sectors Allocation Comparison
Sectors
IWR
RNMC
Industrials
Technology
Financial Services
Consumer Cyclical
Healthcare
Energy
Real Estate
Utilities
Basic Materials
Consumer Defensive
Communication Services
Industrials
IWR
RNMC
Technology
IWR
RNMC
Financial Services
IWR
RNMC
Consumer Cyclical
IWR
RNMC
Healthcare
IWR
RNMC
Energy
IWR
RNMC
Real Estate
IWR
RNMC
Utilities
IWR
RNMC
Basic Materials
IWR
RNMC
Consumer Defensive
IWR
RNMC
Communication Services
IWR
RNMC
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
IWR vs. RNMC — Risk / Return Rank
IWR
RNMC
IWR vs. RNMC - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR) and First Trust Mid Cap US Equity Select ETF (RNMC). 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 | RNMC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.71 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.36 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.01 | +0.29 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.77 | -0.02 | +2.79 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.70 | -0.04 | +10.73 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| IWR | RNMC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.69 | -0.01 | +1.71 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.45 | 0.28 | +0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.60 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.50 | 0.39 | +0.11 |
Drawdowns
IWR vs. RNMC - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWR drawdown since its inception was -58.78%, which is greater than RNMC's maximum drawdown of -43.57%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWR and RNMC.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IWR | RNMC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.78% | -43.57% | -15.21% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.17% | -7.81% | -0.36% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -21.09% | -19.55% | -1.54% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.18% | -21.25% | -4.93% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.59% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -6.84% | +6.84% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -7.80% | -5.99% | -1.81% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.11% | 3.62% | -1.51% |
Volatility
IWR vs. RNMC - Volatility Comparison
iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR) has a higher volatility of 3.16% compared to First Trust Mid Cap US Equity Select ETF (RNMC) at 2.96%. This indicates that IWR's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than RNMC based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IWR | RNMC | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.16% | 2.96% | +0.20% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.84% | 8.24% | +1.60% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.36% | 12.69% | +0.67% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 18.22% | 18.09% | +0.13% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.36% | 21.20% | -1.84% |
IWR vs. RNMC - Expense Ratio Comparison
IWR has a 0.19% expense ratio, which is lower than RNMC's 0.60% expense ratio.
Dividends
IWR vs. RNMC - Dividend Comparison
IWR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.14%, more than RNMC's 0.91% 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% |
RNMC First Trust Mid Cap US Equity Select ETF | 0.91% | 0.75% | 1.12% | 1.47% | 1.71% | 1.21% | 1.33% | 1.68% | 1.67% | 0.67% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IWR and RNMC have a correlation of 0.81, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IWR has higher volatility (3.16%) compared to RNMC (2.96%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IWR dropped -58.78% vs RNMC's -43.57%.
On 5-year performance, IWR leads with 8.11% vs 5.04% for RNMC. On fees, IWR is cheaper at 0.19% per year. On volatility, RNMC has been the lower-risk option at 2.96%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, IWR has performed better with a 8.11% return vs 5.04%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IWR is cheaper with a 0.19% expense ratio, compared with 0.60% for RNMC.
IWR has the higher dividend yield at 1.14%, compared with 0.91% for RNMC.
IWR is categorized as Mid Cap Growth Equities, while RNMC is Mid Cap Blend Equities. IWR tracks Russell Midcap Index, while RNMC tracks Nasdaq Riskalyze Mid Cap US Equity Select Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and First Trust. Their fees differ too: 0.19% for IWR and 0.60% for RNMC.
IWR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.69 vs -0.01), 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.
Find the right allocation for IWR and RNMC
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer