IWM vs VB
iShares Russell 2000 ETF vs Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares
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.
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VB) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to small-cap U.S. equities with higher growth potential and volatility. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.33%. Launched in 2004, the fund has a 22-year track record.
Quick Verdict
VB is significantly cheaper at 0.03% vs 0.19% expense ratio, saving you approximately $317 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, IWM has significantly outperformed with a 25.1% return vs 18.4%.
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
1 of top 9 holdings overlap (11% 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% |
VB Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Sandisk CorporationSNDK | 1.21% |
| Comfort Systems USA, Inc.FIX | 0.65% |
| Lumentum Holdings Inc.LITE | 0.64% |
| Ciena CorporationCIEN | 0.64% |
| Coherent Corp.COHR | 0.53% |
| Rocket Lab CorporationRKLB | 0.48% |
| NRG Energy, Inc.NRG | 0.44% |
| Bloom Energy CorporationBE | 0.43% |
| EMCOR Group, Inc.EME | 0.42% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose VB if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose IWM if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose VB if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.
Either works if...
you just need broad us small cap exposure. Both are solid options — pick whichever your brokerage offers commission-free.