IWR vs VOO
iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, IWR or VOO?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. IWR is less concentrated, with 5.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%.
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 | IWR | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $56.2B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.13% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 831 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +12.56%Best | +11.55% |
| 1Y Return | +14.85% | +17.54%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.25% | +20.71%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.66% | +12.80%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.6% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,463 | $18,262Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.5%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 17, 2001 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 10, 2026 (16 years).
IWR vs VOO 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 16 years both funds cover.
IWR vs VOO Performance
iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF (IWR) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IWR returned +14.85% while VOO returned +17.54%. Year to date, IWR is up 12.56% versus a gain of 11.55% for VOO.
Over three years, IWR compounded at +16.25% per year against +20.71% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +7.66% and +12.80% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.35% annualized vs +11.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 14.1% for VOO. 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 -40.6% for IWR and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWR charges 0.18% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $3 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWR currently yields 1.13% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
60.9% of IWR's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 13.1% of VOO's money is in holdings IWR also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
297 positions in common, counted across the 798 positions we hold weights for in IWR and 505 in VOO, against full books of 831 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 204 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for IWR (86.5% of the fund), and 470 for IWR that do not appear in VOO (34.6%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IWR | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 0.65% | 0.12% | 0.53% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc. Class A | 0.60% | 0.13% | 0.47% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp. | 0.57% | 0.12% | 0.45% |
| RCLRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | 0.52% | 0.12% | 0.40% |
| SPGSimon Property Group Inc | 0.52% | 0.11% | 0.41% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 0.51% | 0.11% | 0.40% |
| URIUnited Rentals Inc. | 0.49% | 0.11% | 0.38% |
| FIXComfort Systems USA Inc. | 0.45% | 0.11% | 0.34% |
| ALLAllstate Corp. | 0.46% | 0.09% | 0.37% |
| WBDWarner Bros. Discovery, Inc | 0.45% | 0.10% | 0.35% |
60.9% of IWR is already inside VOO.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IWR or VOO?
IWR has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWR or VOO?
Over the past year IWR returned +14.85% vs +17.54% for VOO, so VOO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), IWR annualized +11.12% vs +13.35% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWR or VOO?
IWR has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: IWR -40.6% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both IWR and VOO?
IWR and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IWR and VOO?
60.9% of IWR's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 13.1% of VOO's is in holdings IWR also owns. They hold 297 positions in common, counted across the 798 positions we hold weights for in IWR and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWR or VOO?
IWR yields 1.13% while VOO yields 1.04%, so IWR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than IWR?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VOO led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. IWR is less concentrated, with 5.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 36.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.