IWM vs SCHA
iShares Russell 2000 ETF vs Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-02
iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to small-cap U.S. equities with higher growth potential and volatility. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.19%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.02%. Launched in 2000, the fund has a 26-year track record.
Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF (SCHA) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Schwab that provides exposure to small-cap U.S. equities with higher growth potential and volatility. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.04%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.16%. Launched in 2009, the fund has a 17-year track record.
Quick Verdict
SCHA is significantly cheaper at 0.04% vs 0.19% expense ratio, saving you approximately $297 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Both funds have delivered similar 1-year returns (25.1% vs 25.0%), tracking closely.
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
2 of top 10 holdings overlap (20% overlap in top holdings)
IWM Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Bloom Energy CorporationBE | 1.01% |
| FabrinetFN | 0.69% |
| Nextpower Inc.NXT | 0.61% |
| COEUR MINING INCCDE.NE | 0.60% |
| EchoStar CorporationSATS | 0.54% |
| Credo Technology Group Holding LtdCRDO | 0.53% |
| Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.KTOS | 0.45% |
| Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.STRL | 0.43% |
| Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.AEIS | 0.41% |
| Hecla Mining CompanyHL | 0.39% |
SCHA Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Sandisk CorporationSNDK | 2.27% |
| Lumentum Holdings Inc.LITE | 1.25% |
| ATI Inc.ATI | 0.48% |
| Nextpower Inc.NXT | 0.44% |
| Coeur Mining, Inc.CDE | 0.44% |
| Revolution Medicines, Inc.RVMD | 0.42% |
| EchoStar CorporationSATS | 0.39% |
| MKS Inc.MKSI | 0.37% |
| MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.MTSI | 0.36% |
| The New York Times CompanyNYT | 0.33% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose SCHA if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Either works if...
you just need broad us small cap exposure. Both are solid options — pick whichever your brokerage offers commission-free.