IWR vs VTI
iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, IWR or VTI?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IWR led over 1Y and the full window, VTI over 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. IWR is less concentrated, with 7.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.6%.
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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $56.8B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.14% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 1,660 | 3,542 |
| YTD Return | +15.72%Best | +12.23% |
| 1Y Return | +17.28%Best | +12.74% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.34% | +21.44%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.26% | +10.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.7% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,197 | $16,722Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 7.1%Best | 34.6% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 17, 2001 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 20, 2001 to Nov 11, 2026 (25.3 years).
IWR vs VTI 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 25.3 years both funds cover.
IWR vs VTI Performance
iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF (IWR) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IWR returned +17.28% while VTI returned +12.74%. Year to date, IWR is up 15.72% versus a gain of 12.23% for VTI.
Over three years, IWR compounded at +19.34% per year against +21.44% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +7.26% and +10.83% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, IWR has the edge at +8.65% annualized vs +8.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 15.3% for VTI. 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 -59.7% for IWR and -56.6% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.96. 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 VTI 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 1.14% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
96.8% of IWR's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 17.6% of VTI's money is in holdings IWR also owns.
Most of IWR is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
785 positions in common, counted across the 821 positions we hold weights for in IWR and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 1,660 and 3,542.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 435 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for IWR (79.5% of the fund), and 16 for IWR that do not appear in VTI (1.4%).
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 VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp. | 1.06% | 0.15% | 0.91% |
| PSXPhillips 66 | 0.89% | 0.14% | 0.75% |
| SNOWSnowflake Inc | 0.84% | 0.15% | 0.69% |
| NETCloudflare Inc (180 Day Lockup) | 0.77% | 0.15% | 0.62% |
| DDOGDatadog Inc. Class A | 0.66% | 0.13% | 0.53% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co | 0.62% | 0.11% | 0.51% |
| MRNAModerna Inc | 0.61% | 0.09% | 0.52% |
| HOODRobinhood Markets Inc - A | 0.58% | 0.12% | 0.46% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 0.52% | 0.12% | 0.40% |
| RCLRoyal Caribbean | 0.51% | 0.09% | 0.42% |
96.8% of IWR is already inside VTI.
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 VTI?
IWR has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWR or VTI?
Over the past year IWR returned +17.28% vs +12.74% for VTI, so IWR leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IWR annualized +8.65% vs +8.17% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWR or VTI?
IWR has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: IWR -59.7% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both IWR and VTI?
IWR and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, 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 VTI?
96.8% of IWR's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 17.6% of VTI's is in holdings IWR also owns. They hold 785 positions in common, counted across the 821 positions we hold weights for in IWR and 3,464 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWR or VTI?
IWR yields 1.14% while VTI yields 1.06%, so IWR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than IWR?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IWR led over 1Y and the full window, VTI over 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. IWR is less concentrated, with 7.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.