IWS vs. NLY
IWS (iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF) is Mid Cap Value Equities fund tracking the Russell Midcap Value Index, while NLY (Annaly Capital Management, Inc.) is a stock. Over the past 10 years, IWS returned 10.51%/yr vs 5.96%/yr for NLY. At a 0.47 correlation, their price movements are largely independent.
Performance
IWS vs. NLY - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWS achieves a 16.45% return, which is significantly higher than NLY's 1.74% return. Over the past 10 years, IWS has outperformed NLY with an annualized return of 10.51%, while NLY has yielded a comparatively lower 5.96% annualized return.
IWS
- 1D
- 1.16%
- 1M
- 4.03%
- YTD
- 16.45%
- 6M
- 15.28%
- 1Y
- 27.58%
- 3Y*
- 16.65%
- 5Y*
- 8.67%
- 10Y*
- 10.51%
NLY
- 1D
- -0.05%
- 1M
- -0.72%
- YTD
- 1.74%
- 6M
- 5.83%
- 1Y
- 29.27%
- 3Y*
- 16.65%
- 5Y*
- 2.68%
- 10Y*
- 5.96%
IWS vs. NLY - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWS iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF | 16.45% | 10.82% | 12.91% | 12.52% | -12.29% | 28.10% | 4.83% | 26.73% | -12.43% | 13.14% |
NLY Annaly Capital Management, Inc. | 1.74% | 40.00% | 8.07% | 4.94% | -21.41% | 2.48% | 2.38% | 7.22% | -7.22% | 31.92% |
Correlation
The correlation between IWS and NLY is 0.52, 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 | 0.52 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.61 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.57 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jul 24, 2001 | 0.47 |
The correlation between IWS and NLY shifts across timeframes, from 0.47 (all time) to 0.65 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
IWS vs. NLY — Risk / Return Rank
IWS
NLY
IWS vs. NLY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) and Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY). 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.
| IWS | NLY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.50 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.73 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.27 | +0.09 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.68 | 1.98 | +1.70 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 13.82 | 5.80 | +8.02 |
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Drawdowns
IWS vs. NLY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWS drawdown since its inception was -62.40%, roughly equal to the maximum NLY drawdown of -60.09%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWS and NLY.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWS | NLY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.40% | -60.09% | -2.31% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -7.53% | -14.88% | +7.35% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.57% | -26.70% | +6.13% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.23% | -50.99% | +29.76% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.83% | -60.09% | +16.26% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -6.77% | +6.77% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.01% | -13.83% | +5.82% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.00% | 5.07% | -3.07% |
Volatility
IWS vs. NLY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) is 4.29%, while Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NLY) has a volatility of 6.20%. This indicates that IWS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than NLY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWS | NLY | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.29% | 6.20% | -1.91% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.97% | 15.27% | -5.30% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 13.53% | 19.07% | -5.54% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.36% | 25.61% | -8.25% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.37% | 28.14% | -8.77% |
Dividends
IWS vs. NLY - Dividend Comparison
IWS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.32%, less than NLY's 12.73% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWS iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF | 1.32% | 1.53% | 1.50% | 1.76% | 1.93% | 1.39% | 1.87% | 1.97% | 2.53% | 1.96% | 2.10% | 2.14% |
NLY Annaly Capital Management, Inc. | 12.73% | 12.52% | 14.21% | 13.42% | 16.70% | 11.25% | 10.77% | 11.15% | 12.22% | 10.09% | 12.04% | 12.79% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IWS and NLY have a correlation of 0.52, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
NLY has higher volatility (6.20%) compared to IWS (4.29%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IWS dropped -62.40% vs NLY's -60.09%.
IWS currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.05 vs 1.54), 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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