IVV vs IWM
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF vs iShares Russell 2000 ETF
Which is better, IVV or IWM?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Blend.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y and 5Y, IWM over 1Y and the full window. IWM is less concentrated, with 3.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | IVV | IWM |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.19% |
| AUM | $876.4B | $79.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 0.91% |
| Holdings | 508 | 1,996 |
| YTD Return | +14.14% | +16.23%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.30% | +18.72%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.04%Best | +18.96% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.63%Best | +6.77% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.1%Best | 19.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -56.5%Best | -59.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,944Best | $13,875 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.8% | 3.2%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2000 | May 22, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 26, 2000 to Sep 22, 2026 (26.3 years).
IVV vs IWM growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 26.3 years both funds cover.
IVV vs IWM Performance
iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year IVV returned +17.30% while IWM returned +18.72%. Year to date, IVV is up 14.14% versus a gain of 16.23% for IWM.
Over three years, IVV compounded at +23.04% per year against +18.96% for IWM; over five years the annualized figures are +13.63% and +6.77% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IWM has the edge at +7.51% annualized vs +7.11%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 15.1% for IVV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -56.5% for IVV and -59.9% for IWM. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVV charges 0.03% per year while IWM charges 0.19%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $19 annually, a gap of $16 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVV currently yields 1.06% against 0.91% for IWM.
Holdings Overlap
0.4% of IVV's money is in holdings IWM also owns. 0.1% of IWM's money is in holdings IVV also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 490 positions we hold weights for in IVV and 1,956 in IWM, against full books of 508 and 1,996.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,683 positions for IWM that do not appear in our book for IVV (95.0% of the fund), and 480 for IVV that do not appear in IWM (98.2%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IVV and IWM you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IVV or IWM?
IVV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while IWM charges 0.19%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $16 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVV or IWM?
Over the past year IVV returned +17.30% vs +18.72% for IWM, so IWM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), IVV annualized +7.11% vs +7.51% for IWM. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVV or IWM?
IWM has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 15.1% for IVV. Worst drawdown: IVV -56.5% vs IWM -59.9%.
Should I hold both IVV and IWM?
IVV and IWM have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, IVV or IWM?
IVV yields 1.06% while IWM yields 0.91%, so IVV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IWM better than IVV?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. IVV led over 3Y and 5Y, IWM over 1Y and the full window. IWM is less concentrated, with 3.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.