IWM vs RUSC
iShares Russell 2000 ETF vs Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF
Which is better, IWM or RUSC?
Nearly the same fund. IWM costs less.
IWM has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. IWM is less concentrated, with 3.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 5.2%.
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 | IWM | RUSC |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.19%Best | 0.64% |
| AUM | $76.0B | $81M |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 0.33% |
| Holdings | 1,972 | 491 |
| YTD Return | +9.82% | +13.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.58% | +17.59%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.51% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.03% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.5% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -11.0% | -9.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $13,283 | $13,328Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 3.5%Best | 5.2% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Russell Investments |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Small Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 22, 2000 | May 13, 2025 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.4 years).
IWM vs RUSC 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
IWM vs RUSC Performance
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF (RUSC) is an ETF from Russell Investments. Over the past year IWM returned +10.58% while RUSC returned +17.59%. Year to date, IWM is up 9.82% versus a gain of 13.09% for RUSC.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.5% compared with 15.3% for RUSC. 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 -11.0% for IWM and -9.8% for RUSC. 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
IWM charges 0.19% per year while RUSC charges 0.64%. On a $10,000 position that is $19 vs $64 annually, a gap of $45 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWM currently yields 0.98% against 0.33% for RUSC.
Holdings Overlap
25.3% of IWM's money is in holdings RUSC also owns. 64.9% of RUSC's money is in holdings IWM also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
310 positions in common, counted across the 1,973 positions we hold weights for in IWM and 489 in RUSC, against full books of 1,972 and 491.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 80 positions for RUSC that do not appear in our book for IWM (15.1% of the fund), and 1,398 for IWM that do not appear in RUSC (71.7%).
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 IWM | Weight in RUSC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LGNDLigand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 0.20% | 0.64% | 0.44% |
| TWSTTwist Bioscience Corp. | 0.42% | 0.30% | 0.12% |
| WTTRSelect Energy Services Inc | 0.08% | 0.61% | 0.53% |
| PTGXProtagonist Therapeutics Inc | 0.29% | 0.36% | 0.07% |
| JXNJackson Financial Inc USD | 0.26% | 0.38% | 0.12% |
| CDNACaredx Inc | 0.11% | 0.52% | 0.41% |
| APPNAppian Corp | 0.05% | 0.56% | 0.51% |
| CYTKCytokinetics Inc | 0.30% | 0.30% | 0.00% |
| TVTXTravere Therapeutics Inc | 0.17% | 0.42% | 0.25% |
| OSCROscar Health, Inc. | 0.24% | 0.35% | 0.11% |
64.9% of RUSC is already inside IWM.
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, IWM or RUSC?
IWM has an expense ratio of 0.19% while RUSC charges 0.64%. IWM is the cheaper option, by $45 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWM or RUSC?
Over the past year IWM returned +10.58% vs +17.59% for RUSC, so RUSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IWM annualized +22.48% vs +22.78% for RUSC. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWM or RUSC?
IWM has been the more volatile fund at 15.5% annualized versus 15.3% for RUSC. Worst drawdown: IWM -11.0% vs RUSC -9.8%.
Should I hold both IWM and RUSC?
IWM and RUSC 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 IWM and RUSC?
64.9% of RUSC's money is in holdings IWM also owns. 64.9% of RUSC's is in holdings IWM also owns. They hold 310 positions in common, counted across the 1,973 positions we hold weights for in IWM and 489 in RUSC.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWM or RUSC?
IWM yields 0.98% while RUSC yields 0.33%, so IWM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is RUSC better than IWM?
IWM has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. IWM is less concentrated, with 3.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 5.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.