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IWM vs. VXF – A Comprehensive Comparison

Discover a comparison of IWM vs. VXF to determine which is best for you! Use the table below to compare their key characteristics.

IWM vs. VXF Key Characteristics

MetricsIWMVXF
1-Year Annual Return16.80%25.39%
5-Year Annual Return9.87%11.91%
Expense Ratio0.19%0.06%
Dividend Yield1.35%1.24%
Number of Holdings19753636

Overview of IWM

The iShares Russell 2000 ETF, trading under the ticker symbol IWM, is an exchange-traded fund managed by BlackRock. It is designed to track the performance of the Russell 2000 Index, which consists of the smallest 2000 stocks in the Russell 3000 Index, representing the small-cap segment of the U.S. equity market. Managed by BlackRock, IWM is known for its liquidity and is widely used by both institutional and individual investors.

Overview of VXF

VXF, the Vanguard Extended Market ETF, is an exchange-traded fund offered by Vanguard. This ETF is designed to track the performance of the S&P Completion Index, which includes U.S. stocks outside of the S&P 500. Essentially, the index covers nearly every investable U.S. stock outside of the largest 500, which primarily means mid-cap and small-cap stocks.

Performance Comparison of IWM vs. VXF

The total return performance including dividends is crucial to consider when analyzing different investment funds. 

As of 1/15/2024, IWM has a one year annualized return of 16.80%, while VXF has a five year annualized return of 25.39%. 

IWM vs. VXF Dividend Yield

Both IWM and VXF pay dividends to their shareholders from the earnings of their underlying stocks. The dividend yield is a measure of how much a company pays in dividends relative to its share price.

As of 1/15/2024 the dividend yield of IWM is 1.35%, while the dividend yield of  VXF is 1.24%. 

IWM vs. VXF Expense Ratios

The expense ratio is a measure of how much an ETF charges its investors for managing the fund. It is expressed as a percentage of the fund’s assets per year.

The expense ratio is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing an ETF because it directly affects your returns over time. The lower the expense ratio, the more money you get to keep from your investment.

As of 1/15/2024 IWM has an expense ratio of 0.19%, while VXF has an expense ratio of 0.06%. 

IWM vs. VXF Holdings

A fund’s holdings are the basket of individual securities that it owns and tracks. It is crucial for investors to analyze a fund’s holdings because they are effectively what you are investing in by purchasing the fund. 

As of 1/15/2024 IWM holds 1975 securities, while VXF holds 3636. 

ETF Comparison Tool

I created an ETF comparison tool you can use with the chart below. Simply search for multiple ETFs or mutual funds to easily compare the key metrics of over 2,000 funds.

Mutual Funds vs. ETFs

When comparing investment funds, you may be confused about the difference between an ETF and a mutual fund. Keep in mind, an index fund is a specific type of mutual fund. ETFs are tradeable during the stock market hours, while mutual funds only update once per day.

etf vs mutual fund table comparison

Mutual funds are pooled investment vehicles that are managed by a fund company or an investment advisor. They issue and redeem shares directly to investors at the end of each trading day based on their net asset value (NAV). Investors can buy and sell mutual fund shares through the fund company or a broker.

ETFs are also pooled investment vehicles that are managed by a fund company or an investment advisor. However, they trade like stocks on an exchange throughout the trading day at market prices that may differ from their NAV. Investors can buy and sell ETF shares through a broker.

Some of the advantages and disadvantages of mutual funds vs ETFs are:

  • Mutual funds may offer more convenience and flexibility for investors who want to invest a fixed amount of money or set up automatic investments or withdrawals.
  • Mutual funds may require a larger minimum investment.
  • ETFs may incur bid-ask spreads and premiums or discounts to their NAV, which can affect their trading efficiency and performance.
  • Mutual funds may be less tax-efficient than ETFs, as they may distribute more capital gains to their shareholders due to their redemption mechanism.
  • ETFs may be more tax-efficient than mutual funds, as they may avoid realizing capital gains through their creation and redemption mechanism.

IWM vs. VXF - Bottom Line

Ultimately, both IWM and VXF are solid investment choices. The choice between the two ultimately depends on the exposure you want and the amount of risk you are willing to take. 

Hopefully, the information in this article helps you decide which is better for your portfolio. To continue your research, check out our other fund comparison articles as well!

Comparing ETFs With TradingView

When comparing ETFs, it is crucial that you are comparing the total return to include dividend payments. TradingView allows you to compare several stocks and ETFs at once on a single chart adjusted for dividends.

You can simply sign up for a free TradingView account and type the stock ticker you want to compare.

Next, click the plus sign next to the ticker at the top left of the chart to add symbols to compare.

tradingview plus icon

Finally, ensure you click the ‘ADJ’ at the bottom to adjust the returns for dividends!

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As you can see in the TradingView chart below, you can compare multiple funds and ETFs on a single chart, making your research much easier. Feel free to compare any ETFs you'd like using the widget. Alternatively, sign up for a free TradingView account and use the main website for a better experience.

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