IYW vs. ITB
IYW (iShares U.S. Technology ETF) and ITB (iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IYW is a Technology Equities fund tracking the Russell 1000 Technology RIC 22.5/45 Capped Index, while ITB is a Building & Construction fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IYW returned 26.12%/yr vs 14.46%/yr for ITB. A 0.53 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.38% expense ratio.
Performance
IYW vs. ITB - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IYW achieves a 27.07% return, which is significantly higher than ITB's 3.43% return. Over the past 10 years, IYW has outperformed ITB with an annualized return of 26.12%, while ITB has yielded a comparatively lower 14.46% annualized return.
IYW
- 1D
- 2.91%
- 1M
- 5.65%
- YTD
- 27.07%
- 6M
- 27.03%
- 1Y
- 54.71%
- 3Y*
- 33.01%
- 5Y*
- 21.94%
- 10Y*
- 26.12%
ITB
- 1D
- 3.61%
- 1M
- 9.46%
- YTD
- 3.43%
- 6M
- 1.45%
- 1Y
- 11.44%
- 3Y*
- 8.12%
- 5Y*
- 8.98%
- 10Y*
- 14.46%
IYW vs. ITB - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IYW iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 27.07% | 25.38% | 30.25% | 65.44% | -34.83% | 35.44% | 47.45% | 46.64% | -0.93% | 36.60% |
ITB iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF | 3.43% | -5.26% | 2.06% | 68.91% | -26.26% | 49.25% | 26.42% | 48.70% | -30.92% | 59.65% |
Correlation
The correlation between IYW and ITB is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.48 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 5, 2006 | 0.53 |
Over the past year, the correlation between IYW and ITB has dropped to 0.17 - well below their long-term average of 0.53, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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
IYW vs. ITB — Risk / Return Rank
IYW
ITB
IYW vs. ITB - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW) and iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB). 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.
| IYW | ITB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.99 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +2.09 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.41 | 1.11 | +0.30 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.03 | 0.53 | +2.50 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.70 | 1.02 | +8.68 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
IYW vs. ITB - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IYW drawdown since its inception was -81.90%, smaller than the maximum ITB drawdown of -86.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IYW and ITB.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IYW | ITB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -81.90% | -86.53% | +4.63% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -17.81% | -26.04% | +8.23% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.47% | -33.35% | +6.88% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -39.44% | -40.55% | +1.11% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.44% | -52.10% | +12.66% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.42% | -21.59% | +19.17% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -34.60% | -37.07% | +2.47% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 5.56% | 13.60% | -8.04% |
Volatility
IYW vs. ITB - Volatility Comparison
iShares U.S. Technology ETF (IYW) has a higher volatility of 10.44% compared to iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF (ITB) at 9.20%. This indicates that IYW's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than ITB based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IYW | ITB | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 10.44% | 9.20% | +1.24% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 18.17% | 21.35% | -3.18% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.97% | 29.94% | -7.97% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 26.17% | 29.35% | -3.18% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 25.25% | 30.08% | -4.83% |
IYW vs. ITB - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both IYW and ITB have an expense ratio of 0.38%.
Dividends
IYW vs. ITB - Dividend Comparison
IYW's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.10%, less than ITB's 0.65% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ITB iShares U.S. Home Construction ETF | 0.65% | 1.67% | 0.46% | 0.48% | 0.86% | 0.37% | 0.46% | 0.50% | 0.63% | 0.28% | 0.43% | 0.34% |
IYW iShares U.S. Technology ETF | 0.10% | 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
IYW and ITB have a correlation of 0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IYW has higher volatility (10.44%) compared to ITB (9.20%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IYW dropped -81.90% vs ITB's -86.53%.
On 10-year performance, IYW leads with 26.12% vs 14.46% for ITB. Both ETFs have the same 0.38% expense ratio. On volatility, ITB has been the lower-risk option at 9.20%. 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 26.12% return vs 14.46%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IYW and ITB have the same expense ratio: 0.38% per year.
ITB has the higher dividend yield at 0.65%, compared with 0.10% for IYW.
IYW is categorized as Technology Equities, while ITB is Building & Construction. IYW tracks Russell 1000 Technology RIC 22.5/45 Capped Index, while ITB tracks Dow Jones U.S. Select Home Construction Index.
IYW currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.46 vs 0.46), 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 IYW and ITB
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