iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) Performance
IWO total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +7.2% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +6.1% total return
- 5 years
- +3.3% a year
- 10 years
- +9.9% a year
- Since first price
- +6.7% a year since 2000
IWO trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | IWO total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −4.2% | −4.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −7.5% | −7.6% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −2.7% | −3.0% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +7.2% | +6.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +6.1% | +5.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +68.8%+19.1%/yr | +65.6% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +17.5%+3.3%/yr | +13.7% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +156.7%+9.9%/yr | +140.2% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +376.5%+11.0%/yr | +324.7% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +422.3%+8.6%/yr | +350.3% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionJul 28, 2000 | +442.1%+6.7%/yr | +357.3% | — | — | — |
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: IWO vs SPY
From Jul 28, 2000: IWO grew to $54,208, SPY to $85,152.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
IWO returns by calendar year
18 of 25 full years positive. Best 2003 (+49.4%), worst 2008 (−38.5%). 2026 is year to date.
IWO annual returns table
| Year | IWO | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +7.2% | −14.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +12.9% | −25.9% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +15.0% | −11.5% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +18.5% | −19.5% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −26.3% | −34.4% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +2.5% | −17.1% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +34.7% | −39.8% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +28.5% | −9.2% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −9.4% | −28.8% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +22.2% | −6.1% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +11.7% | −16.7% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −1.3% | −17.4% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +5.9% | −14.4% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +43.3% | −5.4% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +14.8% | −13.7% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −3.0% | −29.2% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +29.4% | −18.1% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +34.6% | −28.4% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −38.5% | −51.6% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +6.9% | −12.1% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +13.2% | −17.4% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +4.0% | −12.1% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | +13.9% | −19.5% | +10.7% | +10.5% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | +49.4% | −13.8% | +28.2% | +49.7% | — |
| 2002 | −30.3% | −42.5% | −21.6% | −37.4% | — |
| 2001 | −10.4% | −38.0% | −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.
IWO largest drawdowns
Now 12.6% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 1, 2000 | −60.1% | Oct 9, 2002 | Feb 22, 2007 | 2.1 years | 6.5 years |
| Oct 10, 2007 | −57.6% | Mar 9, 2009 | Dec 21, 2010 | 1.4 years | 3.2 years |
| Feb 9, 2021 | −42.0% | Jun 16, 2022 | Oct 6, 2025 | 1.3 years | 4.7 years |
| Feb 19, 2020 | −39.8% | Mar 18, 2020 | Aug 7, 2020 | 28 days | 6 months |
| Apr 29, 2011 | −29.2% | Oct 3, 2011 | Sep 14, 2012 | 5 months | 1.4 years |
| Aug 31, 2018 | −28.8% | Dec 24, 2018 | Jan 15, 2020 | 4 months | 1.4 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
IWO risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +17.5% | +4.7% | +9.9% | +6.8% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.2% | 22.1% | 21.5% | 21.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.66 | 0.15 | 0.44 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.14 | 0.23 | 0.67 | — |
| Best month | +14.7% | +14.7% | +17.7% | +17.7% |
| Worst month | −8.4% | −13.4% | −19.6% | −21.7% |
| Best 12 months | +42.6% | +42.6% | +91.1% | +91.1% |
| Worst 12 months | −4.9% | −29.2% | −33.5% | −43.7% |
| Positive months | 56% | 52% | 60% | 59% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 1.46 | 1.21 | 1.21 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.86 | 0.86 | 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.
IWO rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 304 | −43.7% | +10.4% | +91.1% | 71% |
| 3-year (a year) | 280 | −17.1% | +9.7% | +31.0% | 82% |
| 5-year (a year) | 256 | −6.9% | +7.9% | +28.0% | 94% |
| 10-year (a year) | 196 | −2.1% | +9.2% | +17.7% | 98% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2000. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
IWO performance overview
iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF (IWO) returned +6.1% 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 +6.7% a year, turning $10,000 into about $54,208. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −60.1%, from Sep 1, 2000 to Oct 9, 2002, and it took 4.4 years to get back to the old high. IWO finished 18 of its 25 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2003 (+49.4%) and the worst 2008 (−38.5%). Volatility has been 21.6% a year.
Related: IWO chart, IWO holdings, IWO dividends. See the IWO overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
IWO performance FAQ
What is the IWO return over the past year?
IWO returned +6.1% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 5.6%.
What is the average annual return of IWO?
IWO has returned +3.3% a year over 5 years, +9.9% a year over 10 years, +6.7% a year since July 28, 2000 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in IWO be worth?
$10,000 invested in IWO at its first recorded close on July 28, 2000 would be worth about $54,208 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for IWO?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −38.5%. The best was 2003 at +49.4%.
What is the biggest drawdown of IWO?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −60.1% between September 1, 2000 and October 9, 2002. It recovered to the old high on February 22, 2007, 4.4 years after the bottom.
How volatile is IWO?
Over the past 3 years IWO had an annualized volatility of 21.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.66 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).