IWN vs VTI
iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, IWN or VTI?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IWN led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IWN is less concentrated, with 5.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.5%.
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 | IWN | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.24% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $13.8B | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.55% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 1,393 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +14.77%Best | +13.02% |
| 1Y Return | +17.60%Best | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.07% | +21.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.58% | +11.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.7% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.9% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,752 | $17,616Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 5.4%Best | 33.5% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 24, 2000 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Oct 14, 2026 (25.4 years).
IWN 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 25.4 years both funds cover.
IWN vs VTI Performance
iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) 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 IWN returned +17.60% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, IWN is up 14.77% versus a gain of 13.02% for VTI.
Over three years, IWN compounded at +18.07% per year against +21.97% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.58% and +11.99% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.04% annualized vs +6.96%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IWN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.7% 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 -62.9% for IWN 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IWN charges 0.24% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $24 vs $3 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IWN currently yields 1.55% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
88.3% of IWN's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.1% of VTI's money is in holdings IWN also owns.
Most of IWN is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
1,174 positions in common, counted across the 1,290 positions we hold weights for in IWN and 3,441 in VTI, against full books of 1,393 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,030 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for IWN (95.5% of the fund), and 63 for IWN that do not appear in VTI (6.0%).
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 IWN | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VVERDERA ENERGY CORP | 0.00% | 0.85% | 0.85% |
| VSATViasat Inc | 0.61% | 0.01% | 0.60% |
| UMBFUmb Financial Corp | 0.60% | 0.01% | 0.59% |
| CTRECaretrust Reit Inc Reit Usd.01 | 0.58% | 0.01% | 0.57% |
| SMSm Energy Co | 0.55% | 0.01% | 0.54% |
| PBFPbf Energy Inc | 0.55% | 0.01% | 0.54% |
| JXNJackson Financial Inc USD | 0.54% | 0.01% | 0.53% |
| ONBOld National Bancorp/In Common Stock | 0.53% | 0.01% | 0.52% |
| CYTKCytokinetics Inc | 0.53% | 0.01% | 0.52% |
| TRNOTerreno Realty Corp. | 0.46% | 0.01% | 0.45% |
88.3% of IWN 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, IWN or VTI?
IWN has an expense ratio of 0.24% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IWN or VTI?
Over the past year IWN returned +17.60% vs +16.63% for VTI, so IWN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), IWN annualized +6.96% vs +8.04% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IWN or VTI?
IWN has been the more volatile fund at 19.7% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: IWN -62.9% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both IWN and VTI?
IWN and VTI 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.
What is the holdings overlap between IWN and VTI?
88.3% of IWN's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.1% of VTI's is in holdings IWN also owns. They hold 1,174 positions in common, counted across the 1,290 positions we hold weights for in IWN and 3,441 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, IWN or VTI?
IWN yields 1.55% while VTI yields 1.06%, so IWN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than IWN?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IWN led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IWN is less concentrated, with 5.4% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.