IWM vs SPSM
iShares Russell 2000 ETF vs State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-10
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 modest dividend yield of 0.97%. Launched in 2000, the fund has a 26-year track record.
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SPSM) is an exchange-traded fund issued by SPDR 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 1.52%. Launched in 2013, the fund has a 13-year track record.
Quick Verdict
SPSM 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 43.7% return vs 37.6%. Income investors may prefer SPSM for its higher yield (1.5% vs 1.0%).
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
0 of top 10 holdings overlap (0% overlap in top holdings)
IWM Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Bloom Energy CorporationBE | 1.04% |
| FabrinetFN | 0.71% |
| COEUR MINING INCCDE.NE | 0.65% |
| Credo Technology Group Holding LtdCRDO | 0.58% |
| Nextpower Inc.NXT | 0.55% |
| EchoStar CorporationSATS | 0.54% |
| Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.AEIS | 0.45% |
| Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc.KTOS | 0.44% |
| Sterling Infrastructure, Inc.STRL | 0.41% |
| Hecla Mining CompanyHL | 0.40% |
SPSM Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Viavi Solutions Inc.VIAV | 0.60% |
| FormFactor, Inc.FORM | 0.57% |
| Eastman Chemical CompanyEMN | 0.53% |
| Primoris Services CorporationPRIM | 0.53% |
| Element Solutions IncESI | 0.53% |
| Argan, Inc.AGX | 0.51% |
| Semtech CorporationSMTC | 0.51% |
| ESCO Technologies Inc.ESE | 0.50% |
| Match Group, Inc.MTCH | 0.49% |
| Viasat, Inc.VSAT | 0.48% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose SPSM 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 SPSM 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.