VFINX vs. IWF
VFINX (Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares) and IWF (iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF) are both funds - VFINX is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the S&P 500 Index, while IWF is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Russell 1000 Growth Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VFINX returned 15.00%/yr vs 18.15%/yr for IWF. Their correlation of 0.94 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VFINX charges 0.14%/yr vs 0.18%/yr for IWF.
Performance
VFINX vs. IWF - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VFINX achieves a 6.66% return, which is significantly higher than IWF's 2.83% return. Over the past 10 years, VFINX has underperformed IWF with an annualized return of 15.00%, while IWF has yielded a comparatively higher 18.15% annualized return.
VFINX
- 1D
- -1.62%
- 1M
- -1.70%
- YTD
- 6.66%
- 6M
- 5.86%
- 1Y
- 21.97%
- 3Y*
- 20.58%
- 5Y*
- 12.79%
- 10Y*
- 15.00%
IWF
- 1D
- 1.57%
- 1M
- -1.44%
- YTD
- 2.83%
- 6M
- 1.71%
- 1Y
- 19.30%
- 3Y*
- 22.57%
- 5Y*
- 13.90%
- 10Y*
- 18.15%
VFINX vs. IWF - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VFINX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares | 6.66% | 17.71% | 24.84% | 26.12% | -18.24% | 28.53% | 18.20% | 31.33% | -4.55% | 21.66% |
IWF iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF | 2.83% | 18.33% | 33.12% | 42.59% | -29.31% | 27.43% | 38.25% | 35.86% | -1.67% | 29.95% |
Correlation
The correlation between VFINX and IWF is 0.92, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 26, 2000 | 0.94 |
The correlation between VFINX and IWF has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.92 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VFINX vs. IWF — Risk / Return Rank
VFINX
IWF
VFINX vs. IWF - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares (VFINX) and iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF). 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.
| VFINX | IWF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.56 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.72 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.22 | +0.11 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.44 | 1.19 | +1.25 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 11.11 | 3.93 | +7.18 |
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Drawdowns
VFINX vs. IWF - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VFINX drawdown since its inception was -55.25%, smaller than the maximum IWF drawdown of -64.25%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFINX and IWF.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VFINX | IWF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -55.25% | -64.25% | +9.00% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.92% | -16.27% | +7.35% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -18.76% | -23.36% | +4.60% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.59% | -32.72% | +8.13% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -33.83% | -32.72% | -1.11% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.46% | -5.59% | +1.13% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.28% | -22.06% | +13.78% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.95% | 4.92% | -2.97% |
Volatility
VFINX vs. IWF - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares (VFINX) is 4.04%, while iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) has a volatility of 5.43%. This indicates that VFINX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IWF based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VFINX | IWF | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.04% | 5.43% | -1.39% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.56% | 12.40% | -2.84% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 12.26% | 15.96% | -3.70% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.96% | 21.47% | -4.51% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.09% | 21.01% | -2.92% |
VFINX vs. IWF - Expense Ratio Comparison
VFINX has a 0.14% expense ratio, which is lower than IWF's 0.18% 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
VFINX vs. IWF - Dividend Comparison
VFINX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.97%, more than IWF's 0.35% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWF iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF | 0.35% | 0.36% | 0.46% | 0.67% | 0.91% | 0.49% | 0.66% | 0.99% | 1.27% | 1.10% | 1.43% | 1.37% |
VFINX Vanguard 500 Index Fund Investor Shares | 0.97% | 1.02% | 1.14% | 1.36% | 1.57% | 1.15% | 1.45% | 1.77% | 1.94% | 1.69% | 1.92% | 1.99% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.92, VFINX and IWF 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.
IWF has higher volatility (5.43%) compared to VFINX (4.04%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VFINX dropped -55.25% vs IWF's -64.25%.
VFINX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.77 vs 1.21), 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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