IWS vs VOO
iShares Russell Mid-cap Value ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, IWS or VOO?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. IWS led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. IWS is less concentrated, with 6.1% 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 | IWS | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.23% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $15.5B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.30% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 724 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +17.82%Best | +12.50% |
| 1Y Return | +19.50%Best | +17.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.20% | +21.27%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.28% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.1% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.8% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,585 | $18,384Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 6.1%Best | 36.4% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | 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 11, 2026 (16 years).
IWS 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.
IWS vs VOO Performance
iShares Russell Mid-cap Value ETF (IWS) 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 IWS returned +19.50% while VOO returned +17.58%. Year to date, IWS is up 17.82% versus a gain of 12.50% for VOO.
Over three years, IWS compounded at +17.20% per year against +21.27% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +9.28% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.41% annualized vs +10.09%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% 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 -43.8% for IWS 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 0.91. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWS charges 0.23% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $23 vs $3 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWS currently yields 1.30% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
65.7% of IWS's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 11.5% of VOO's money is in holdings IWS also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
275 positions in common, counted across the 716 positions we hold weights for in IWS and 505 in VOO, against full books of 724 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 226 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for IWS (88.2% of the fund), and 410 for IWS that do not appear in VOO (31.4%).
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 IWS | Weight in VOO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSXPhillips 66 | 0.72% | 0.11% | 0.61% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 0.67% | 0.09% | 0.58% |
| HPEHewlett Packard Enterprise Co. | 0.67% | 0.09% | 0.58% |
| ALLAllstate Corp. | 0.64% | 0.09% | 0.55% |
| WBDWarner Bros. Discovery, Inc | 0.59% | 0.10% | 0.49% |
| BKRBaker Hughes A Ge Co. Class A | 0.58% | 0.09% | 0.49% |
| KMIKinder Morgan Inc./de | 0.57% | 0.10% | 0.47% |
| NUENucor Corp. | 0.57% | 0.08% | 0.49% |
| ORealty Income Corp. | 0.55% | 0.09% | 0.46% |
| AMEAmetek Inc. | 0.55% | 0.09% | 0.46% |
65.7% of IWS 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, IWS or VOO?
IWS has an expense ratio of 0.23% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWS or VOO?
Over the past year IWS returned +19.50% vs +17.58% for VOO, so IWS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), IWS annualized +10.09% vs +13.41% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWS or VOO?
IWS has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: IWS -43.8% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both IWS and VOO?
IWS and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.91, 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 IWS and VOO?
65.7% of IWS's money is in holdings VOO also owns. 11.5% of VOO's is in holdings IWS also owns. They hold 275 positions in common, counted across the 716 positions we hold weights for in IWS and 505 in VOO.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWS or VOO?
IWS yields 1.30% while VOO yields 1.04%, so IWS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than IWS?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. IWS led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.91. IWS is less concentrated, with 6.1% 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.