USHY vs. IWM
USHY (iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF) and IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - USHY is a High Yield Bonds fund tracking the ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index, while IWM is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Russell 2000 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, USHY returned 4.16%/yr vs 7.64%/yr for IWM. Their 0.66 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. USHY charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.19%/yr for IWM.
Performance
USHY vs. IWM - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, USHY achieves a 2.08% return, which is significantly lower than IWM's 20.84% return.
USHY
- 1D
- 0.31%
- 1M
- 0.01%
- 6M
- 1.32%
- YTD
- 2.08%
- 1Y
- 5.64%
- 3Y*
- 8.63%
- 5Y*
- 4.16%
- 10Y*
- —
- ALL TIME*
- 4.75%
IWM
- 1D
- 1.72%
- 1M
- -0.46%
- 6M
- 13.45%
- YTD
- 20.84%
- 1Y
- 39.26%
- 3Y*
- 16.48%
- 5Y*
- 7.64%
- 10Y*
- 10.63%
- ALL TIME*
- 8.80%
Liquidity Comparison
| Position | Avg. Volume Value (2W) | Avg. Volume Value (1M) | Avg. Volume Value (3M) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $6.77B | $6.36B | $7.44B | |
| $552.78M | $427.44M | $406.45M |
USHY vs. IWM - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
USHY iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | 2.08% | 8.81% | 8.45% | 12.73% | -11.18% | 5.02% | 6.17% | 14.24% | -2.41% | 0.16% |
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 20.84% | 12.66% | 11.38% | 16.83% | -20.48% | 14.54% | 20.03% | 25.39% | -11.12% | 3.09% |
Correlation
The correlation between USHY and IWM is 0.74, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most. | 0.74 |
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history. | 0.70 |
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period. | 0.71 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 26, 2017 | 0.66 |
The correlation between USHY and IWM has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.66 to 0.74 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
USHY vs. IWM — Risk / Return Rank
USHY
IWM
USHY vs. IWM - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY) 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.
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.
| USHY | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.50 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.53 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.34 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.33 | 3.58 | -1.24 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.25 | 12.68 | -2.43 |
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Drawdowns
USHY vs. IWM - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum USHY drawdown since its inception was -22.44%, smaller than the maximum IWM drawdown of -59.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for USHY and IWM.
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Drawdown Indicators
| USHY | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -22.44% | -59.05% | +36.61% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -2.43% | -11.03% | +8.60% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -4.66% | -27.50% | +22.84% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -15.56% | -31.91% | +16.35% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -41.13% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.18% | -1.41% | +1.23% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -2.62% | -10.71% | +8.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 0.55% | 3.11% | -2.56% |
Volatility
USHY vs. IWM - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF (USHY) is 0.82%, while iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) has a volatility of 4.21%. This indicates that USHY experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky 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
| USHY | IWM | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 0.82% | 4.21% | -3.39% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 3.03% | 14.13% | -11.10% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 3.69% | 19.36% | -15.67% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 7.35% | 22.50% | -15.15% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 8.18% | 23.02% | -14.84% |
USHY vs. IWM - Expense Ratio Comparison
USHY has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than IWM's 0.19% 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
USHY vs. IWM - Dividend Comparison
USHY's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.95%, more than IWM's 0.90% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWM iShares Russell 2000 ETF | 0.90% | 1.04% | 1.15% | 1.35% | 1.48% | 0.94% | 1.04% | 1.26% | 1.40% | 1.26% | 1.38% | 1.54% |
USHY iShares Broad USD High Yield Corporate Bond ETF | 6.95% | 6.79% | 6.89% | 6.63% | 6.08% | 5.07% | 5.30% | 5.92% | 6.30% | 0.73% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
USHY and IWM have a correlation of 0.74, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IWM has higher volatility (4.21%) compared to USHY (0.82%). In terms of maximum drawdown, USHY dropped -22.44% vs IWM's -59.05%.
On 5-year performance, IWM leads with 7.64% vs 4.16% for USHY. On fees, USHY is cheaper at 0.15% per year. On volatility, USHY has been the lower-risk option at 0.82%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, IWM has performed better with a 7.64% return vs 4.16%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
USHY is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.19% for IWM.
USHY has the higher dividend yield at 6.95%, compared with 0.90% for IWM.
USHY is categorized as High Yield Bonds, while IWM is Small Cap Blend Equities. USHY tracks ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index, while IWM tracks Russell 2000 Index. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for USHY and 0.19% for IWM.
IWM currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.04 vs 1.54), 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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