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IYMvsVAWETF Comparison
iShares U.S. Basic Materials ETF (IYM) and Vanguard Materials ETF (VAW) belong to the same industry segment: US Materials. IYM's top 3 sector exposures are Materials and Industrials. In contrast, VAW's top sector exposures are Materials IYM is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.38%, versus 0.09% for VAW. IYM is up 15.6% year-to-date (YTD) with +$624M in YTD flows. VAW performs worse with 9.21% YTD performance, and -$102M in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of IYM and VAW below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
IYM vs VAW performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | IYM VAW | -3.84%-6.92% | +16.91%+9.75% | +15.60%+9.21% | +35.25%+22.17% | +46.37%+39.44% | +55.09%+43.48% |
| Flows | IYM VAW | +$167M+$16M | +$709M-$119M | +$624M-$102M | +$705M-$152M | +$390M-$593M | +$638M-$491M |
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | IYM VAW | +20.79%+19.09% | +21.74%+21.02% | +17.91%+17.50% | +20.22%+19.63% |
| Max drawdown | IYM VAW | -6.90%-7.26% | -15.07%-14.66% | -23.58%-23.20% | -29.91%-25.44% |
| Max drawdown duration | IYM VAW | 9d10d | 75d57d | 352d430d | 709d679d |
IYM | VAW | |
Last sale 3/12/2026 at 1:30 PM | $176.93 | $224.94 |
| Previous close 03/11/2026 | $177.86 | $226.62 |
| Consolidated volume 03/11/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Create an account to view replication metrics
IYM | VAW | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
IYM | VAW | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $176.93 | $224.94 |
| 1D performance | -0.52% | -0.74% |
| AuM | $1.42 B | $2.98 B |
| E/R | 0.38% | 0.09% |
IYM | VAW | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Passive | Passive |
| Provider | iShares | Vanguard |
| Benchmark | Russell 1000 Basic Materials RIC 22.5/45 Capped Gross Index | MSCI US IMI Materials 25/50 Index |
| N° of holdings | 36 | 99 |
| Asset class | Equities | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | June 12, 2000 | January 26, 2004 |
| ESG | No | No |
Countries
Sectors
Diversification
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
Top 15 holdings
How have the IYM and VAW ETFs performed in 2026?
As of March 11, 2026, IYM is up 15.6% year-to-date (YTD), while VAW has returned 9.21%. That puts IYM better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: IYM or VAW?
Year-to-date, the IYM ETF saw +$624M in flows, compared to -$102M for VAW.
Which ETF is more volatile: IYM or VAW?
Over the past year, IYM had a volatility of 21.74%, while VAW experienced 21.02%.
Which ETF is bigger: IYM or VAW?
As of March 11, 2026, IYM holds $1.42 B in assets under management (AUM), while VAW manages $2.98 B.
What sectors do the IYM and VAW ETFs invest in?
IYM leans toward sectors like Materials and Industrials. Meanwhile, VAW focuses on Materials.
What are the top holdings of the IYM ETF and VAW ETF?
IYM top holdings include IE000S9YS762, NEWMONT CORP and FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC. VAW holds in its top three: IE000S9YS762, NEWMONT CORP and FREEPORT-MCMORAN INC.
Which ETF is more diversified: IYM or VAW?
IYM holds 39 securities with 78.21% of its assets in the top 15. VAW has 113 securities and a top 15 weight of 64.9%.
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