VKSIX vs. IWR
VKSIX (Virtus KAR Small-Mid Cap Core Fund) and IWR (iShares Russell Midcap ETF) are both Mid Cap Growth Equities funds. Over the past 5 years, VKSIX returned -0.04%/yr vs 8.00%/yr for IWR. Their correlation of 0.92 suggests significant overlap in exposure. VKSIX charges 1.02%/yr vs 0.19%/yr for IWR.
Performance
VKSIX vs. IWR - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VKSIX achieves a -6.56% return, which is significantly lower than IWR's 12.43% return.
VKSIX
- 1D
- -0.71%
- 1M
- -2.22%
- YTD
- -6.56%
- 6M
- -7.63%
- 1Y
- -9.43%
- 3Y*
- 3.69%
- 5Y*
- -0.04%
- 10Y*
- —
IWR
- 1D
- -0.26%
- 1M
- 3.79%
- YTD
- 12.43%
- 6M
- 12.21%
- 1Y
- 21.66%
- 3Y*
- 17.25%
- 5Y*
- 8.00%
- 10Y*
- 11.55%
VKSIX vs. IWR - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VKSIX Virtus KAR Small-Mid Cap Core Fund | -6.56% | -4.36% | 9.07% | 23.61% | -23.83% | 19.54% | 33.45% | 38.81% | -6.68% |
IWR iShares Russell Midcap ETF | 12.43% | 10.37% | 15.21% | 17.05% | -17.48% | 22.44% | 16.93% | 30.23% | -8.55% |
Correlation
The correlation between VKSIX and IWR is 0.85, 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 | 0.85 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.90 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 23, 2018 | 0.92 |
The correlation between VKSIX and IWR has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.85 to 0.92 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VKSIX vs. IWR — Risk / Return Rank
VKSIX
IWR
VKSIX vs. IWR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Virtus KAR Small-Mid Cap Core Fund (VKSIX) and iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR). 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.
| VKSIX | IWR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -2.20 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -3.11 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 0.92 | 1.28 | -0.37 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.53 | 2.66 | -3.20 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -1.14 | 10.28 | -11.42 |
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
| VKSIX | IWR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.57 | 1.63 | -2.20 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.00 | 0.44 | -0.44 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.60 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.39 | 0.49 | -0.11 |
Drawdowns
VKSIX vs. IWR - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VKSIX drawdown since its inception was -35.59%, smaller than the maximum IWR drawdown of -58.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VKSIX and IWR.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VKSIX | IWR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.59% | -58.78% | +23.19% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -16.70% | -8.17% | -8.53% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -20.29% | -21.09% | +0.80% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.49% | -26.18% | -6.31% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -40.59% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -17.61% | -0.26% | -17.35% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.87% | -7.80% | -1.07% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 7.74% | 2.11% | +5.63% |
Volatility
VKSIX vs. IWR - Volatility Comparison
Virtus KAR Small-Mid Cap Core Fund (VKSIX) has a higher volatility of 4.27% compared to iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR) at 3.26%. This indicates that VKSIX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than IWR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VKSIX | IWR | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.27% | 3.26% | +1.01% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.71% | 9.84% | +1.87% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.51% | 13.39% | +2.12% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.18% | 18.23% | +0.95% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.98% | 19.36% | +1.62% |
VKSIX vs. IWR - Expense Ratio Comparison
VKSIX has a 1.02% expense ratio, which is higher than IWR's 0.19% expense ratio.
Dividends
VKSIX vs. IWR - Dividend Comparison
VKSIX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 0.37%, less than IWR's 1.15% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IWR iShares Russell Midcap ETF | 1.15% | 1.29% | 1.27% | 1.43% | 1.59% | 1.04% | 1.28% | 1.43% | 1.98% | 1.52% | 1.72% | 1.59% |
VKSIX Virtus KAR Small-Mid Cap Core Fund | 0.37% | 0.34% | 0.43% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.13% | 0.01% | 0.00% | 1.47% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VKSIX and IWR have a correlation of 0.85, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VKSIX has higher volatility (4.27%) compared to IWR (3.26%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VKSIX dropped -35.59% vs IWR's -58.78%.
IWR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.63 vs -0.57), 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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