IWM vs SPY
OPEN IN CHARTiShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) total return over 5Y: IWM +26.59%, SPY +80.45%. As of Oct 16, 2026. Research only.
NOTE · WRITTEN 2026-10-09IWM closed at $278.9 on 2026‑10‑09, while SPY settled at $778.6 the same day. Over the past five years the Russell 2000 ETF delivered a total‑return of +34.8%, compared with the S&P 500 ETF’s stronger +91.6% gain, reflecting the broader market’s outperformance of large‑cap stocks during the period. The IWM overlay shows a SELL signal (Score ‑3) in a 28‑day BEAR regime, with a quality score of 44.00 and a Balanced archetype. SPY’s overlay registers a BUY signal (Score 5) in a 72‑day BULL regime, quality 56.80 and also a Balanced archetype. Both funds sit in the “Balanced” category; readers can open the individual stock pages or review the methodology for full overlay detail.Figures in the note are as of that date; the table below is live.
Total return · dividends and splits
IWM
SPY
| SYMBOL | PRICE | CHANGE | 5Y % | PREV CLOSE | DIR | REGIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IWMiShares Russell 2000 ETF | $270.44 | —-1.69% | +26.59% | — | ||
| SPYState Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust | $763.25 | —-1.11% | +80.45% | — |
DRAWDOWN · THIS RANGE
| SYMBOL | CURRENT | PEAK | WORST | TROUGH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IWM | -11.12% | 2026-08-14 | -31.90% | 2022-06-16 |
| SPY | -2.03% | 2026-10-06 | -24.49% | 2022-10-12 |
PERIODS · 5Y BOOK
| SYMBOL | 1Y | 2Y | 3Y | 5Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IWM | - | - | - | - |
| SPY | - | - | - | - |
ANNUAL · 5Y BOOK
| YEAR | IWM | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
Compare FAQ
- What does the IWM vs SPY overlay show?
- LOPJLB overlays IWM vs SPY as total return (dividends and splits) from the first adjusted close in the selected 5Y window. Each path starts at 0% so you can read relative holding performance, not raw tape price.
- Is this holding return or tape close?
- Holding return. The series uses split- and dividend-adjusted close (Yahoo-style backward adjustment) when dividend coverage is sufficient, otherwise it falls back to tape close. Candles and technical overlays on /chart stay tape.
- Which windows are public?
- Public visitors can share 1M, 3M, 6M, YTD, 1Y, and 5Y. MAX is Research+. Direction and regime in the table follow the desk ladder: SPY25 on Free, full book on Essential+.
- How do I read the drawdown, period, and annual tables?
- Drawdowns are current and worst peak-to-trough on the visible range. Periods are calendar lookbacks (1Y / 2Y / 3Y / 5Y, plus 10Y on MAX) from the last bar. Annual is calendar-year holding return, with the latest year labeled YTD.
- How has IWM vs SPY performed on a normalized basis?
- IWM vs SPY holding-return overlay: 5Y IWM +26.59% · SPY +80.45%; worst drawdown IWM -31.90% · SPY -24.49%; YTD IWM +9.44% · SPY +12.60%. Numbers update from the live compare-series book.
- Is ticker compare investment advice?
- No. The overlay is research context only — not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
Related: IWM, SPY, methodology, chart