# ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed IWM (Russell 2000 Small Caps)

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-iwm
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) screened against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs over 8 periods from 1 month to 10 years, with dividends reinvested. To make the list, an investment had to outperform IWM in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Returns in the tables are total returns over each period; volatility and Sharpe ratio cover 5 years.

## Key findings

- How hard it was to top IWM: Across over 10,000 stocks and ETFs screened, 391 of 957 eligible ETFs, or 41%, and 477 of 1,502 eligible stocks, or 32%, outperformed IWM in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods. A smaller group held up in nearly every window: 183 ETFs and 214 stocks outperformed in every long-term period and all but one short-term period.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
  - Popular alternatives: VOO, SPY, and VTI outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods, as did QQQ in 4 of 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods. Among small-cap comparisons, SCHA and IJR cleared the bar with 5 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term periods, while IWF fell short with 2 of 5 short-term periods despite 3 of 3 long-term periods. No same-index funds were excluded.
  - Top ETFs: Broad-market and technology funds led the displayed group, with 7 broad-market and 5 technology ETFs among the top ETFs. RSPT, FXL, and CIBR each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods, as did broad-market fund ONEQ.
  - Top stocks: 477 stocks made the consistency cut. The standout stocks span several sectors: healthcare names NTRA and LLY, technology company FTNT, and industrials company BWLP each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, the top ETFs had median volatility of 21.5%, similar to IWM's 22.4%, and all 15 had higher Sharpe ratios than IWM. The top stocks were much bumpier, with median volatility of 44.6%, but all 10 also had higher Sharpe ratios than the benchmark.

## How popular alternatives compare

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| IWM: iShares Russell 2000 ETF (benchmark) |  |  | −3.4% | −5.4% | −0.1% | +11.6% | +12.3% | +71.3% | +29.0% | +158% | 22.4% | 0.34 |
| [VOO](https://easycompare.io/research/voo): Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.7% | +82.3% | +324% | 16.9% | 0.80 |
| [SPY](https://easycompare.io/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1% | 0.79 |
| [VTI](https://easycompare.io/research/vti): Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.8% | +3.2% | +8.3% | +13.1% | +15.2% | +87.9% | +72.6% | +302% | 17.5% | 0.71 |
| [QQQ](https://easycompare.io/research/qqq): Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0% | 0.71 |
| [IWF](https://easycompare.io/research/iwf): iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 3/3 long | −3.0% | +2.6% | +3.3% | +4.1% | +4.0% | +87.7% | +74.1% | +416% | 21.8% | 0.62 |
| SCHA: Schwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | −2.8% | −3.6% | +1.1% | +13.9% | +16.5% | +73.1% | +33.9% | +165% | 22.0% | 0.38 |
| [IJR](https://easycompare.io/research/ijr): iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | −1.1% | −4.8% | +1.8% | +14.4% | +16.7% | +60.8% | +31.5% | +164% | 21.1% | 0.37 |
| [VB](https://easycompare.io/research/vb): Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 2/3 long | −0.8% | −1.8% | +1.3% | +11.2% | +13.7% | +66.8% | +35.2% | +179% | 20.6% | 0.40 |
| MDY: State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust | Made the list | 3/5 short, 2/3 long | −0.2% | −2.2% | +0.1% | +9.9% | +13.1% | +58.0% | +39.8% | +172% | 19.6% | 0.44 |
| IWN: iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF | Fell short | 5/5 short, 1/3 long | −2.3% | −4.1% | +2.4% | +16.6% | +19.1% | +73.2% | +38.6% | +147% | 21.1% | 0.42 |
| AVUV: Avantis U.S. Small Cap Value ETF | Fell short | 5/5 short, 1/3 long | −0.4% | −2.6% | +3.0% | +18.4% | +24.4% | +70.2% | +64.9% | — | 22.1% | 0.56 |
| [VBK](https://easycompare.io/research/vbk): Vanguard Morningstar Small-Cap Growth ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 1/3 long | −2.6% | −3.0% | −1.5% | +8.7% | +9.7% | +66.3% | +17.3% | +177% | 23.7% | 0.25 |

## ETFs that consistently outperformed IWM

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | Expense | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| IWM: iShares Russell 2000 ETF (benchmark) |  | −3.4% | −5.4% | −0.1% | +11.6% | +12.3% | +71.3% | +29.0% | +158% | 22.4% | 0.34 |  |  |
| RSPT: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1% | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| FXL: First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.5% | +10.4% | +18.9% | +28.7% | +28.3% | +103% | +68.2% | +523% | 26.2% | 0.53 | 0.60% | $2.7B |
| CIBR: First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.6% | +9.4% | +49.9% | +42.4% | +31.9% | +127% | +93.2% | +454% | 26.1% | 0.64 | 0.58% | $17B |
| ONEQ: Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.5% | +3.7% | +8.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | +107% | +83.6% | +453% | 22.5% | 0.65 | 0.21% | $11B |
| DXJ: WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | 0.0% | +4.7% | +9.9% | +25.0% | +36.4% | +127% | +225% | +428% | 19.1% | 1.34 | 0.48% | $8.1B |
| [SPYG](https://easycompare.io/research/spyg): State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.4% | +4.0% | +9.9% | +13.9% | +15.8% | +110% | +86.5% | +418% | 21.5% | 0.69 | 0.04% | $57B |
| VOOG: Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.3% | +4.0% | +9.9% | +13.9% | +15.8% | +110% | +86.0% | +416% | 21.6% | 0.69 | 0.07% | $28B |
| [IVW](https://easycompare.io/research/ivw): iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.4% | +4.0% | +9.8% | +13.8% | +15.7% | +109% | +85.3% | +413% | 21.5% | 0.68 | 0.18% | $77B |
| IUSG: iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.3% | +3.8% | +9.4% | +13.9% | +15.9% | +107% | +83.7% | +405% | 21.2% | 0.68 | 0.04% | $33B |
| UGA: United States Gasoline Fund, LP | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1% | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| SKYY: First Trust Cloud Computing ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.9% | +19.5% | +37.0% | +27.8% | +21.5% | +122% | +43.4% | +396% | 31.4% | 0.39 | 0.60% | $3.3B |
| TDIV: First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.7% | +5.3% | +8.6% | +17.7% | +15.2% | +117% | +111% | +388% | 21.3% | 0.81 | 0.50% | $4.4B |
| EQL: ALPS Equal Sector Weight ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.7% | +3.0% | +5.1% | +12.5% | +14.2% | +76.7% | +88.1% | +387% | 14.5% | 0.94 | 0.19% | $781M |
| OEF: iShares S&P 100 ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.1% | +4.6% | +10.4% | +12.6% | +14.8% | +98.4% | +94.8% | +367% | 17.8% | 0.84 | 0.20% | $20B |
| IOO: iShares Global 100 ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.1% | +4.6% | +9.3% | +14.2% | +19.9% | +105% | +107% | +361% | 17.2% | 0.94 | 0.40% | $9.2B |

## Stocks that consistently outperformed IWM

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | Market cap |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| IWM: iShares Russell 2000 ETF (benchmark) |  | −3.4% | −5.4% | −0.1% | +11.6% | +12.3% | +71.3% | +29.0% | +158% | 22.4% | 0.34 |  |
| [NTRA](https://easycompare.io/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6% | 0.74 | $59B |
| BWLP: BW LPG Limited | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.7% | +22.6% | +44.0% | +117% | +136% | +230% | +958% | +2,672% | 50.9% | 1.19 | $3.8B |
| [FTNT](https://easycompare.io/research/ftnt): Fortinet, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.5% | +6.6% | +107% | +119% | +101% | +203% | +156% | +2,626% | 44.8% | 0.65 | $125B |
| [LLY](https://easycompare.io/research/lly): Eli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8% | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| CORT: Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | +1,593% | 75.9% | 0.81 | $13B |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0% | 1.10 | $14B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3% | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| [MPC](https://easycompare.io/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4% | 1.41 | $133B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4% | 0.71 | $30B |
| HALO: Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4% | 0.79 | $14B |

## What stands out

The leading ETFs were not tied to one narrow theme. Broad-market and technology funds made up most of the displayed group, while international and commodities funds also appeared. Several familiar broad-market alternatives, including VOO, SPY, and VTI, kept ahead of IWM across every measured period. By contrast, small-cap funds such as SCHA and IJR cleared the consistency bar on shorter periods but did not lead in every long-term window.

The stock leaders came from varied businesses, including healthcare, technology, industrials, consumer staples, and energy. That spread suggests the results were not confined to one sector, though the top stocks shown are only a slice of the 477 stocks that qualified. Their higher median volatility points to a rougher ride than IWM, while their stronger Sharpe ratios indicate that their returns were higher relative to the amount of risk taken over the measured period.

## More research

- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed SPY (S&P 500)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-spy)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VOO (S&P 500)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-voo)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VTI (Total US Stock Market)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vti)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed QQQ (Nasdaq-100)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-qqq)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed DIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-dia)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VXUS (International Stocks)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vxus)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed NVDA (Nvidia)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-nvda)
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- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed MSFT (Microsoft)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-msft)
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- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed GOOG (Alphabet)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-goog)
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## Explore further

- Full page: https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-iwm
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt