IXN vs. IYW
IXN (iShares Global Tech ETF) and IYW (iShares U.S. Technology ETF) are both Technology Equities funds from iShares - IXN tracks the S&P Global Information Technology Sector Index while IYW tracks the Russell 1000 Technology RIC 22.5/45 Capped Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IXN returned 25.57%/yr vs 26.11%/yr for IYW. Their correlation of 0.91 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IXN charges 0.46%/yr vs 0.38%/yr for IYW.
Performance
IXN vs. IYW - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IXN achieves a 41.18% return, which is significantly higher than IYW's 29.03% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with IXN having a 25.57% annualized return and IYW not far ahead at 26.11%.
IXN
- 1D
- -1.00%
- 1M
- 21.36%
- YTD
- 41.18%
- 6M
- 41.72%
- 1Y
- 74.57%
- 3Y*
- 36.05%
- 5Y*
- 23.25%
- 10Y*
- 25.57%
IYW
- 1D
- -0.92%
- 1M
- 16.53%
- YTD
- 29.03%
- 6M
- 28.22%
- 1Y
- 59.52%
- 3Y*
- 35.24%
- 5Y*
- 22.87%
- 10Y*
- 26.11%
IXN vs. IYW - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXN iShares Global Tech ETF | 41.18% | 25.25% | 24.84% | 52.98% | -29.86% | 29.58% | 43.62% | 47.88% | -5.44% | 41.23% |
IYW iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 29.03% | 25.38% | 30.25% | 65.44% | -34.83% | 35.44% | 47.45% | 46.64% | -0.93% | 36.60% |
Correlation
The correlation between IXN and IYW is 0.97 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 27, 2001 | 0.91 |
The correlation between IXN and IYW has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.91 to 0.98 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IXN vs. IYW — Risk / Return Rank
IXN
IYW
IXN vs. IYW - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Global Tech ETF (IXN) and iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW). 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.
| IXN | IYW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.43 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.44 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.54 | 1.48 | +0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 5.43 | 3.36 | +2.07 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 18.73 | 11.00 | +7.74 |
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
| IXN | IYW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.41 | 2.98 | +0.43 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.94 | 0.89 | +0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 1.05 | 1.04 | +0.01 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.54 | 0.35 | +0.19 |
Drawdowns
IXN vs. IYW - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IXN drawdown since its inception was -55.67%, smaller than the maximum IYW drawdown of -81.90%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IXN and IYW.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IXN | IYW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -55.67% | -81.90% | +26.23% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.80% | -17.81% | +4.01% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -25.55% | -26.47% | +0.92% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -36.30% | -39.44% | +3.14% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.30% | -39.44% | +3.14% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.00% | -0.92% | -0.08% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.27% | -34.66% | +23.39% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.99% | 5.43% | -1.44% |
Volatility
IXN vs. IYW - Volatility Comparison
iShares Global Tech ETF (IXN) has a higher volatility of 7.95% compared to iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW) at 6.30%. This indicates that IXN's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IYW based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IXN | IYW | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.95% | 6.30% | +1.65% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 17.85% | 15.85% | +2.00% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.98% | 20.09% | +1.89% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 24.84% | 25.87% | -1.03% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 24.40% | 25.09% | -0.69% |
IXN vs. IYW - Expense Ratio Comparison
IXN has a 0.46% expense ratio, which is higher than IYW's 0.38% expense ratio.
Dividends
IXN vs. IYW - Dividend Comparison
IXN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.74%, more than IYW's 0.11% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IXN iShares Global Tech ETF | 0.74% | 1.04% | 0.43% | 0.55% | 0.81% | 0.58% | 0.63% | 1.06% | 0.94% | 0.93% | 1.03% | 1.12% |
IYW iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 0.11% | 0.14% | 0.21% | 0.34% | 0.50% | 0.31% | 0.56% | 0.72% | 0.92% | 0.82% | 1.14% | 1.12% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.97, IXN and IYW move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
IXN has higher volatility (7.95%) compared to IYW (6.30%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IXN dropped -55.67% vs IYW's -81.90%.
On 10-year performance, IYW leads with 26.11% vs 25.57% for IXN. On fees, IYW is cheaper at 0.38% per year. On volatility, IYW has been the lower-risk option at 6.30%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, IYW has performed better with a 26.11% return vs 25.57%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IYW is cheaper with a 0.38% expense ratio, compared with 0.46% for IXN.
IXN has the higher dividend yield at 0.74%, compared with 0.11% for IYW.
IXN tracks S&P Global Information Technology Sector Index, while IYW tracks Russell 1000 Technology RIC 22.5/45 Capped Index. Their fees differ too: 0.46% for IXN and 0.38% for IYW.
IXN currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (3.41 vs 2.98), 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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