IWS vs. VO
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) and Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO).
IWS and VO are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IWS is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell Midcap Value Index. It was launched on Jul 17, 2001. VO is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the CRSP US Mid Cap Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2004. Both IWS and VO 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
IWS vs. VO - Performance Comparison
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IWS vs. VO - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWS iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF | 3.65% | 10.82% | 12.91% | 12.52% | -12.29% | 28.10% | 4.83% | 26.73% | -12.43% | 13.14% |
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | -0.68% | 11.62% | 15.31% | 16.03% | -18.73% | 24.70% | 18.10% | 30.98% | -9.24% | 19.28% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IWS achieves a 3.65% return, which is significantly higher than VO's -0.68% return. Over the past 10 years, IWS has underperformed VO with an annualized return of 9.51%, while VO has yielded a comparatively higher 10.67% annualized return.
IWS
- 1D
- 2.43%
- 1M
- -5.01%
- YTD
- 3.65%
- 6M
- 5.15%
- 1Y
- 17.51%
- 3Y*
- 12.94%
- 5Y*
- 7.47%
- 10Y*
- 9.51%
VO
- 1D
- 2.22%
- 1M
- -5.86%
- YTD
- -0.68%
- 6M
- -1.48%
- 1Y
- 12.73%
- 3Y*
- 12.61%
- 5Y*
- 6.66%
- 10Y*
- 10.67%
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IWS vs. VO - Expense Ratio Comparison
IWS has a 0.23% expense ratio, which is higher than VO's 0.04% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
IWS vs. VO — Risk / Return Rank
IWS
VO
IWS vs. VO - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) and Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO). 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.
| IWS | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.96 | 0.73 | +0.23 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.44 | 1.12 | +0.32 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.20 | 1.16 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.37 | 1.05 | +0.32 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.34 | 4.84 | +1.49 |
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
| IWS | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.96 | 0.73 | +0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.43 | 0.38 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.49 | 0.57 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.40 | 0.48 | -0.08 |
Correlation
The correlation between IWS and VO is 0.95, 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
IWS vs. VO - Dividend Comparison
IWS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.48%, less than VO's 1.51% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWS iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF | 1.48% | 1.53% | 1.50% | 1.76% | 1.93% | 1.39% | 1.87% | 1.97% | 2.53% | 1.96% | 2.10% | 2.14% |
VO Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF | 1.51% | 1.52% | 1.49% | 1.52% | 1.60% | 1.12% | 1.45% | 1.48% | 1.82% | 1.35% | 1.45% | 1.47% |
Drawdowns
IWS vs. VO - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IWS drawdown since its inception was -62.40%, which is greater than VO's maximum drawdown of -58.87%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWS and VO.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IWS | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -62.40% | -58.87% | -3.53% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.33% | -12.74% | -0.59% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -21.23% | -27.57% | +6.34% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.83% | -39.37% | -4.46% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -5.29% | -6.12% | +0.83% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.07% | -7.91% | -0.16% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.89% | 2.76% | +0.13% |
Volatility
IWS vs. VO - Volatility Comparison
iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) has a higher volatility of 5.38% compared to Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF (VO) at 4.89%. This indicates that IWS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VO based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IWS | VO | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.38% | 4.89% | +0.49% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.14% | 9.72% | +0.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.29% | 17.57% | +0.72% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.33% | 17.62% | -0.29% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.35% | 18.94% | +0.41% |