iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) Performance
IWM total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +12.8% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +13.0% total return
- 5 years
- +5.2% a year
- 10 years
- +9.9% a year
- Since first price
- +8.4% a year since 2000
IWM trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | IWM total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −2.2% | −2.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −5.3% | −5.6% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +0.6% | +0.1% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +12.8% | +12.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +13.0% | +11.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +72.7%+20.0%/yr | +67.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +29.0%+5.2%/yr | +21.3% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +158.1%+9.9%/yr | +127.8% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +374.8%+10.9%/yr | +287.7% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +375.2%+8.1%/yr | +264.0% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionMay 26, 2000 | +748.3%+8.4%/yr | +503.1% | — | — | — |
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: IWM vs SPY
From May 26, 2000: IWM grew to $84,826, SPY to $87,885.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
IWM returns by calendar year
18 of 25 full years positive. Best 2003 (+47.9%), worst 2008 (−34.2%). 2026 is year to date.
IWM annual returns table
| Year | IWM | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +12.8% | −11.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +12.7% | −23.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +11.4% | −10.1% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +16.8% | −18.0% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −20.5% | −26.9% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +14.5% | −12.3% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +20.0% | −41.1% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +25.4% | −9.6% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −11.1% | −26.8% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +14.6% | −6.4% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +21.6% | −14.0% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −4.5% | −16.1% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +5.0% | −12.7% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +38.7% | −5.2% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +16.7% | −12.7% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −4.4% | −28.9% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +26.9% | −20.1% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +28.5% | −32.9% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −34.2% | −49.1% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | −1.8% | −14.6% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +18.3% | −14.1% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +4.5% | −11.2% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | +18.1% | −14.2% | +10.7% | +10.5% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | +47.9% | −12.8% | +28.2% | +49.7% | — |
| 2002 | −20.4% | −37.2% | −21.6% | −37.4% | — |
| 2001 | +1.8% | −26.6% | −11.8% | −33.3% | — |
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.
IWM largest drawdowns
Now 9.4% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 9, 2007 | −59.0% | Mar 9, 2009 | Feb 11, 2011 | 1.7 years | 3.6 years |
| Aug 31, 2018 | −41.1% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 9, 2020 | 1.6 years | 2.2 years |
| Jul 17, 2000 | −38.7% | Oct 9, 2002 | Oct 13, 2003 | 2.2 years | 3.2 years |
| Nov 8, 2021 | −31.9% | Jun 16, 2022 | Nov 6, 2024 | 7 months | 3.0 years |
| Apr 29, 2011 | −28.9% | Oct 3, 2011 | Sep 13, 2012 | 5 months | 1.4 years |
| Nov 25, 2024 | −27.5% | Apr 8, 2025 | Sep 11, 2025 | 4 months | 10 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
IWM risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +17.6% | +6.2% | +9.8% | +8.3% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.6% | 20.9% | 20.9% | 20.0% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.70 | 0.22 | 0.44 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.24 | 0.34 | 0.67 | — |
| Best month | +12.1% | +12.1% | +18.2% | +18.2% |
| Worst month | −8.4% | −9.9% | −21.5% | −21.5% |
| Best 12 months | +44.2% | +44.2% | +95.4% | +95.4% |
| Worst 12 months | −4.1% | −23.6% | −25.4% | −42.3% |
| Positive months | 61% | 55% | 63% | 61% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.27 | 1.13 | 1.17 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.80 | 0.84 | 0.86 | — |
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.
IWM rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 306 | −42.3% | +9.7% | +95.4% | 70% |
| 3-year (a year) | 282 | −17.6% | +10.1% | +29.8% | 85% |
| 5-year (a year) | 258 | −6.6% | +8.2% | +26.4% | 95% |
| 10-year (a year) | 198 | +2.4% | +8.7% | +16.5% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2000. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
IWM performance overview
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) returned +13.0% over the past year and +9.9% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2000 it has returned +8.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $84,826. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −59.0%, from Jul 9, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 1.9 years to get back to the old high. IWM finished 18 of its 25 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2003 (+47.9%) and the worst 2008 (−34.2%). Volatility has been 20.0% a year.
Related: IWM chart, IWM holdings, IWM dividends. See the IWM overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
IWM performance FAQ
What is the IWM return over the past year?
IWM returned +13.0% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 11.9%.
What is the average annual return of IWM?
IWM has returned +5.2% a year over 5 years, +9.9% a year over 10 years, +8.4% a year since May 26, 2000 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in IWM be worth?
$10,000 invested in IWM at its first recorded close on May 26, 2000 would be worth about $84,826 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for IWM?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −34.2%. The best was 2003 at +47.9%.
What is the biggest drawdown of IWM?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −59.0% between July 9, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on February 11, 2011, 1.9 years after the bottom.
How volatile is IWM?
Over the past 3 years IWM had an annualized volatility of 19.6% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.70 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).