MXI vs. IWM
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Global Materials ETF (MXI) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM).
MXI and IWM are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. MXI is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the S&P Global Materials Index. It was launched on Sep 21, 2006. IWM is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the Russell 2000 Index. It was launched on May 22, 2000. Both MXI and IWM 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
MXI vs. IWM - Performance Comparison
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MXI vs. IWM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MXI iShares Global Materials ETF | 9.91% | 27.43% | -8.25% | 14.37% | -9.09% | 15.06% | 22.31% | 22.19% | -16.06% | 30.33% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0.93% | 12.66% | 11.38% | 16.83% | -20.48% | 14.54% | 20.03% | 25.39% | -11.12% | 14.58% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, MXI achieves a 9.91% return, which is significantly higher than IWM's 0.93% return. Over the past 10 years, MXI has outperformed IWM with an annualized return of 11.40%, while IWM has yielded a comparatively lower 9.76% annualized return.
MXI
- 1D
- 3.26%
- 1M
- -8.85%
- YTD
- 9.91%
- 6M
- 15.72%
- 1Y
- 33.16%
- 3Y*
- 11.38%
- 5Y*
- 7.39%
- 10Y*
- 11.40%
IWM
- 1D
- 3.50%
- 1M
- -4.96%
- YTD
- 0.93%
- 6M
- 3.02%
- 1Y
- 25.66%
- 3Y*
- 12.94%
- 5Y*
- 3.34%
- 10Y*
- 9.76%
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MXI vs. IWM - Expense Ratio Comparison
MXI has a 0.46% expense ratio, which is higher than IWM's 0.19% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
MXI vs. IWM — Risk / Return Rank
MXI
IWM
MXI vs. IWM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Global Materials ETF (MXI) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM). 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.
| MXI | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.56 | 1.11 | +0.45 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.10 | 1.66 | +0.44 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.21 | +0.09 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.03 | 1.82 | +0.21 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.74 | 6.76 | +1.97 |
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
| MXI | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.56 | 1.11 | +0.45 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.38 | 0.15 | +0.23 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.56 | 0.43 | +0.14 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.25 | 0.34 | -0.09 |
Correlation
The correlation between MXI and IWM is 0.72, 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
MXI vs. IWM - Dividend Comparison
MXI's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.02%, more than IWM's 1.02% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MXI iShares Global Materials ETF | 2.02% | 2.22% | 3.24% | 2.92% | 4.84% | 3.51% | 1.21% | 3.64% | 2.77% | 1.76% | 1.31% | 3.64% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 1.02% | 1.04% | 1.15% | 1.35% | 1.48% | 0.94% | 1.04% | 1.26% | 1.40% | 1.26% | 1.38% | 1.54% |
Drawdowns
MXI vs. IWM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum MXI drawdown since its inception was -68.44%, which is greater than IWM's maximum drawdown of -59.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for MXI and IWM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| MXI | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -68.44% | -59.05% | -9.39% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.18% | -13.74% | -2.44% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.76% | -31.91% | +3.15% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.52% | -41.13% | +1.61% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.85% | -7.91% | -0.94% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -18.19% | -10.83% | -7.36% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.76% | 3.70% | +0.06% |
Volatility
MXI vs. IWM - Volatility Comparison
iShares Global Materials ETF (MXI) has a higher volatility of 9.12% compared to iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) at 7.47%. This indicates that MXI's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IWM based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| MXI | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.12% | 7.47% | +1.65% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 15.13% | 14.47% | +0.66% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.32% | 23.18% | -1.86% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.43% | 22.55% | -3.12% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.37% | 22.99% | -2.62% |