Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.
IWM has outpaced IWMY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.18% total return against 5.01%. Measured from Oct 2023 — the start of shared available history — IWM has compounded at 21.07% a year versus 12.55% for IWMY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 30, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Oct 2023” measures every fund from October 31, 2023 — the start of shared available history — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the past year. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the past year) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Distribution rate, SEC yield and return of capital
Metric
IWM
IWMY
Forward distribution rate
1.08%
30.03%
Trailing 12-month yield
0.98%
39.82%
30-day SEC yield
—
-0.87%
Return of capital
—
100.00%
Total return (price change plus reinvested distributions) is the Total returns section above. Return of capital is the share of a recent distribution that was not income. A 30-day SEC yield can sit far from the headline distribution rate; both numbers are the fund's own published fields.
Side-by-side snapshot
Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric;
each column is one fund.
Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.
Seeks current income while maintaining exposure to the performance of the Russell 2000 Index. The fund is actively managed and designed to generate weekly cash distributions primarily from options premiums by selling daily credit call spreads on the Russell 2000 Index.
Bottom lineChoose IWM if you want broad equity exposure. Choose IWMY if you want to maximize current income — roughly 30.03%, generated by selling options premium. There's no free lunch: IWMY's payout comes from selling options, which caps upside and can erode the share price over time, while IWM keeps full price exposure.
How the risk works
Read this before the income numbers below: the strategy mechanics on this page shape what those payouts can cost you.
Capped upside and premium dependence. IWMY generates income by selling options, which trades away part of a strong rally in exchange for premium. Distributions can include return of capital, and a payout the underlying assets cannot sustain shows up as NAV erosion over time — the big yield number is not free.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IWM.
ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
Defiance ETFs is known for offering specialized and thematic investment strategies that cater to niche market segments and alternative income approaches. The issuer's lineup spans income-focused funds, leveraged strategies, combinations of leverage with income generation, and thematic products tied to emerging trends and sectors. Defiance emphasizes non-traditional and differentiated strategies rather than broad-based index exposure, appealing to investors seeking targeted exposure beyond conventional ETF offerings.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IWMY.
IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) and IWMY (Defiance R2000 Weekly Distribution ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
IWMY offers the higher yield at 30.03% vs 1.08% for IWM. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
IWM is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.19% compared to 1.05%.
They have different reference exposures: IWM is linked to Russell 2000 Index while IWMY is linked to IWM, which means their performance drivers differ.
IWM is the larger fund by assets ($77.2B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.
Who should choose each?
Choose IWM
iShares Russell 2000 ETF
Want broad equity exposure.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.19% expense ratio vs 1.05% for IWMY.
Choose IWMY
Defiance R2000 Weekly Distribution ETF
Want to maximize current income — IWMY distributes roughly 30.03% from selling options premium, vs 1.08% for IWM.
Are comfortable with an options-income strategy — a large payout in exchange for capped upside.
Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.
Still deciding? Track IWM & IWMY for free
Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.
On a $10,000 investment, IWM would generate roughly $27.00 cash per distribution, while IWMY would produce $57.75 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.
IWM yield1.08%
IWMY yield30.03%
Cash diff on $10K$30.75
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, IWM would cost approximately $190 in fees vs $1,050 for IWMY (simplified, not compounded). The $860.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
IWM ER0.19%
IWMY ER1.05%
Strategy & risk
IWM tracks Russell 2000 Index with a small caps approach, while IWMY is actively managed around IWM exposure with an options approach. Beta is 1.24 for IWM and 1.1019 for IWMY, making IWMY the less volatile of the two by this measure.
IWM beta1.24
IWMY beta1.1019
Fund details
IWM is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $77.2B in assets. IWMY is managed by Defiance ETFs (launched 10/30/2023) with $88.9M in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the current distribution rate for IWM and IWMY?
IWM currently distributes 1.08% and IWMY 30.03%, based on fund data updated September 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.
Is IWM or IWMY better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. IWMY currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between IWM and IWMY?
IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) tracks Russell 2000 Index with a small caps approach, while IWMY (Defiance R2000 Weekly Distribution ETF) is actively managed around IWM exposure with an options approach. They are issued by iShares and Defiance ETFs respectively.
Can I hold both IWM and IWMY?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Is IWM or IWMY safer?
By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — IWM scores 94, IWMY scores 51, so IWM's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee, and the leverage, options-income, or crypto caveats flagged on this page apply regardless of score.
Which has lower fees, IWM or IWMY?
IWM has an expense ratio of 0.19% while IWMY charges 1.05%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in IWM vs IWMY generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in IWM would generate roughly $27.00 cash per distribution ($108.00 annually). The same in IWMY would produce about $57.75 cash per distribution ($3,003.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, IWM or IWMY?
IWM has outpaced IWMY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.18% total return against 5.01%. Measured from Oct 2023 — the start of shared available history — IWM has compounded at 21.07% a year versus 12.55% for IWMY. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Explore related screeners
Lateral filters that include these funds — browse the full peer set on DividendVision.
This shows up immediately in distribution rates (30.03% versus 1.08%) and frequency (weekly versus quarterly).
The second difference is cost and scale. IWMY costs 1.05%—roughly five times higher—and operates at $88.9M, more than 800 times smaller.
The third difference is risk profile. IWMY's options strategy caps upside (short calls limit gains when the market rallies hard), creates concentration risk around strike selection, and exposes investors to volatility realized between weekly roll dates.
IWMY: Fits income-focused investors comfortable with capped appreciation in exchange for weekly cash flow, who understand that the fund trades upside for premium income and accept the operational complexity of weekly options rolls.
Key risks to know
NAV erosion at extreme yield:IWMY's 30.03% distribution rate suggests payouts significantly outpace underlying Russell 2000 dividend yield and capital appreciation potential.
Capped upside from short calls: The call-spread overlay limits gains if small-cap equities rally sharply. Investors in IWMY surrender meaningful appreciation potential in exchange for premium harvesting, a tradeoff that becomes costly in persistent bull markets.
Options and rolling risk:IWMY resets call spreads weekly, exposing the fund to timing mismatch between expiration, market gaps, and the next roll. Adverse price moves at roll dates or extended market volatility can force unfavorable re-entry prices, particularly in thinly traded index options around specific strikes. If you prioritize high weekly income and accept capped gains and NAV-erosion risk as the price of that premium, IWMY offers that structure—but its extreme yield, tiny asset base, and options complexity demand active monitoring. Past performance does not predict future results.
AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.
Learn the method
The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.
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