iShares Micro-Cap ETF (IWC) Performance
IWC total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +12.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +14.7% total return
- 5 years
- +4.9% a year
- 10 years
- +10.0% a year
- Since first price
- +7.3% a year since 2005
IWC trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | IWC total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −6.1% | −6.1% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −6.2% | −6.5% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −0.8% | −1.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +12.6% | +11.8% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +14.7% | +13.4% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +98.4%+25.7%/yr | +91.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +27.3%+4.9%/yr | +20.1% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +159.8%+10.0%/yr | +132.3% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +393.2%+11.2%/yr | +310.9% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +293.3%+7.1%/yr | +213.0% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionAug 16, 2005 | +346.8%+7.3%/yr | +253.9% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: IWC vs SPY
From Aug 16, 2005: IWC grew to $44,683, SPY to $91,659.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
IWC returns by calendar year
14 of 20 full years positive. Best 2013 (+45.2%), worst 2008 (−39.0%). 2026 is year to date.
IWC annual returns table
| Year | IWC | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +12.6% | −13.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +22.5% | −26.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +13.6% | −12.7% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +9.0% | −24.8% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −21.9% | −28.0% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +18.7% | −14.8% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +20.9% | −43.6% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +22.2% | −12.8% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −13.1% | −28.9% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +12.8% | −6.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +20.6% | −15.5% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −5.0% | −17.7% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +3.6% | −16.7% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +45.2% | −5.0% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +19.5% | −12.2% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −9.8% | −30.7% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +29.6% | −22.7% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +23.7% | −34.3% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −39.0% | −51.2% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | −9.0% | −17.0% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +14.9% | −15.0% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
IWC largest drawdowns
Now 12.0% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 19, 2007 | −64.6% | Mar 9, 2009 | Mar 8, 2013 | 1.7 years | 5.7 years |
| Aug 31, 2018 | −47.2% | Mar 18, 2020 | Nov 23, 2020 | 1.5 years | 2.2 years |
| Mar 12, 2021 | −41.1% | Oct 27, 2023 | Sep 18, 2025 | 2.6 years | 4.5 years |
| Jun 23, 2015 | −28.7% | Feb 11, 2016 | Nov 21, 2016 | 8 months | 1.4 years |
| Mar 5, 2014 | −16.7% | Oct 10, 2014 | Mar 18, 2015 | 7 months | 1.0 years |
| May 5, 2006 | −15.0% | Aug 11, 2006 | Dec 27, 2006 | 3 months | 8 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
IWC risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +24.0% | +6.3% | +10.2% | +7.5% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.0% | 22.6% | 22.9% | 21.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.89 | 0.22 | 0.44 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.64 | 0.34 | 0.68 | — |
| Best month | +14.3% | +14.3% | +20.5% | +20.5% |
| Worst month | −9.7% | −10.4% | −23.8% | −23.8% |
| Best 12 months | +63.8% | +63.8% | +121.5% | +121.5% |
| Worst 12 months | −7.4% | −27.5% | −31.2% | −47.5% |
| Positive months | 61% | 55% | 57% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.36 | 1.12 | 1.17 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.77 | 0.78 | 0.78 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
IWC rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 243 | −47.5% | +8.1% | +121.5% | 67% |
| 3-year (a year) | 219 | −23.5% | +8.7% | +27.7% | 78% |
| 5-year (a year) | 195 | −5.1% | +7.1% | +27.7% | 86% |
| 10-year (a year) | 135 | +2.4% | +8.8% | +16.0% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2005. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
IWC performance overview
iShares Micro-Cap ETF (IWC) returned +14.7% over the past year and +10.0% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2005 it has returned +7.3% a year, turning $10,000 into about $44,683. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −64.6%, from Jun 19, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 4.0 years to get back to the old high. IWC finished 14 of its 20 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2013 (+45.2%) and the worst 2008 (−39.0%). Volatility has been 21.6% a year.
Related: IWC chart, IWC holdings, IWC dividends. See the IWC overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
IWC performance FAQ
What is the IWC return over the past year?
IWC returned +14.7% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 13.4%.
What is the average annual return of IWC?
IWC has returned +4.9% a year over 5 years, +10.0% a year over 10 years, +7.3% a year since August 16, 2005 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in IWC be worth?
$10,000 invested in IWC at its first recorded close on August 16, 2005 would be worth about $44,683 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for IWC?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −39.0%. The best was 2013 at +45.2%.
What is the biggest drawdown of IWC?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −64.6% between June 19, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on March 8, 2013, 4.0 years after the bottom.
How volatile is IWC?
Over the past 3 years IWC had an annualized volatility of 22.0% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.89 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).