SMLF vs. IBIT
SMLF (iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF) and IBIT (iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SMLF is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the STOXX U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor Index, while IBIT is a Cryptocurrency fund tracking the CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, SMLF returned 27.75% vs -44.50% for IBIT. Their 0.44 correlation means their historical movements had little consistent relationship. SMLF charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.25%/yr for IBIT.
Performance
SMLF vs. IBIT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SMLF achieves a 15.73% return, which is significantly higher than IBIT's -28.22% return.
SMLF
- 1D
- -0.34%
- 1M
- -2.11%
- 6M
- 11.39%
- YTD
- 15.73%
- 1Y
- 27.75%
- 3Y*
- 16.57%
- 5Y*
- 10.96%
- 10Y*
- 12.07%
- ALL TIME*
- 11.32%
IBIT
- 1D
- -2.89%
- 1M
- 2.21%
- 6M
- -24.95%
- YTD
- -28.22%
- 1Y
- -44.50%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 10.01%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1.30B | $1.34B | $1.68B | |
| $11.55M | $13.63M | $14.55M |
SMLF vs. IBIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
SMLF iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF | 15.73% | 12.30% | 18.40% |
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | -28.22% | -6.41% | 89.87% |
Correlation
The correlation between SMLF and IBIT is 0.47, which is low. Their historical price movements had little consistent relationship.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.47 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 11, 2024 | 0.44 |
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Return for Risk
SMLF vs. IBIT — Risk / Return Rank
SMLF
IBIT
SMLF vs. IBIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (SMLF) and iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT). 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.
| SMLF | IBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +2.54 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +3.73 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | 0.83 | +0.43 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.00 | -0.87 | +3.87 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.03 | -1.34 | +11.37 |
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Drawdowns
SMLF vs. IBIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SMLF drawdown since its inception was -41.89%, smaller than the maximum IBIT drawdown of -53.30%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SMLF and IBIT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SMLF | IBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.89% | -53.30% | +11.41% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.71% | -53.30% | +44.59% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -26.28% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.28% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.89% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -3.26% | -50.01% | +46.75% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.53% | -18.24% | +11.71% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.60% | 34.66% | -32.06% |
Volatility
SMLF vs. IBIT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF (SMLF) is 4.00%, while iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has a volatility of 9.21%. This indicates that SMLF experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IBIT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SMLF | IBIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.00% | 9.21% | -5.21% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.80% | 33.74% | -20.94% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.54% | 44.46% | -26.92% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.01% | 49.60% | -28.59% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 21.76% | 49.60% | -27.84% |
SMLF vs. IBIT - Expense Ratio Comparison
SMLF has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than IBIT's 0.25% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
SMLF vs. IBIT - Dividend Comparison
SMLF's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.02%, while IBIT has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SMLF iShares U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor ETF | 1.02% | 1.14% | 1.33% | 1.13% | 1.23% | 1.07% | 1.33% | 1.39% | 1.17% | 0.93% | 0.78% | 0.79% |
Frequently Asked Questions
SMLF and IBIT have a correlation of 0.47, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IBIT has higher volatility (9.21%) compared to SMLF (4.00%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SMLF dropped -41.89% vs IBIT's -53.30%.
On 1-year performance, SMLF leads with 27.75% vs -44.50% for IBIT. On fees, SMLF is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, SMLF has been the lower-risk option at 4.00%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, SMLF has performed better with a 27.75% return vs -44.50%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SMLF is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for IBIT.
SMLF has the higher dividend yield at 1.02%, compared with 0.00% for IBIT.
SMLF is categorized as Small Cap Blend Equities, while IBIT is Cryptocurrency. SMLF tracks STOXX U.S. Small-Cap Equity Factor Index, while IBIT tracks CME CF Bitcoin Reference Rate - New York Variant. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for SMLF and 0.25% for IBIT.
SMLF currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.49 vs -1.04), 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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