---
title: "Small Cap Value ETFs: IWN Boasts Greater Small Cap Exposure But SLYV Has a Higher Yield"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/279286133.md"
description: "The iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) and State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF (SLYV) both target U.S. small-cap value stocks but differ significantly. IWN holds 1,402 stocks, offers greater diversification, and has a higher 1-year return (25.9%) compared to SLYV's 19.4%. However, SLYV has a lower expense ratio (0.15% vs. 0.24%) and a higher dividend yield (1.9% vs. 1.6%). Investors may prefer IWN for scale and performance, while SLYV may appeal to cost-conscious investors. Both funds are liquid, with IWN having $12.5 billion AUM versus SLYV's $4.1 billion."
datetime: "2026-03-16T14:45:23.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/279286133.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/279286133.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/279286133.md)
---

# Small Cap Value ETFs: IWN Boasts Greater Small Cap Exposure But SLYV Has a Higher Yield

## Key Points

-   IWN holds over three times as many stocks as SLYV, with heavier exposure to real estate and financials
-   IWN has delivered a higher 1-year return and shallower drawdown over five years, but charges a higher expense ratio
-   Both funds are highly liquid, but IWN’s larger assets under management may appeal to investors seeking scale
-   10 stocks we like better than iShares Trust - iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF ›

The **State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF** (NYSEMKT:SLYV) and the **iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF** (NYSEMKT:IWN) both target U.S. small-cap value stocks, but IWN charges a higher fee, holds many more companies, and has outperformed on recent total return.

Both SLYV and IWN aim to capture the value segment of the U.S. small-cap market, but they differ in index construction and depth of coverage. This comparison examines their costs, risks, recent performance, sector tilts, and portfolio makeup to help investors decide which approach may better fit their goals.

## Snapshot (cost & size)

Metric

SLYV

IWN

Issuer

SPDR

IShares

Expense ratio

0.15%

0.24%

1-yr return (as of 2026-03-11)

19.4%

25.9%

Dividend yield

1.9%

1.6%

Beta

1.02

1.03

AUM

$4.1 billion

$12.5 billion

_Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from five-year monthly returns. The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months._

SLYV looks more affordable in terms of fees, charging 0.15% compared to IWN’s 0.24%, while SLYV also offers a slightly higher dividend yield. The difference in expenses may add up over time for cost-conscious investors.

## Performance & Risk Comparison

Metric

SLYV

IWN

Max drawdown (5 y)

\-28.68%

\-26.71%

Growth of $1,000 over 5 years

$1,074

$1,124

## What's Inside

IWN tracks a broad small-cap value universe, holding 1,402 stocks and spanning 25.6 years of history. Its largest sector weights are financial services at 24%, followed by industrials and real estate, t 11%. Each Top holding, such as **Echostar Corp Class A**(NASDAQ:SATS), **Hecla Mining**(NYSE:HL), and **Ttm Technologies Inc, accounts** for less than 1.1% of assets, reflecting wide diversification. No notable structural quirks are present.

SLYV, by contrast, holds 460 companies focused on financial services, consumer cyclicals, and industrials, with more concentrated top positions like **Eastman Chemical Co**(NYSE:EMN), **Lkq Corp**(NASDAQ:LKQ), and **Jackson Financial Inc A**(NYSE:JXN), all at roughly one percent. This narrower approach may create subtle differences in sector risk and performance patterns.

For more guidance on ETF investing, check out the full guide at this link.

## What this means for investors

Both State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF (SLYV) and iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) offer exposure to U.S. small-cap value stocks. Yet, there are differences between these two ETFs.

IWN holds nearly three times as many stock positions (1,402 vs. 460) as SLYV, offering greater diversification. In addition, IWN has posted a higher return over the last year (25.9% vs. 19.4%). Finally, IWN offers greater liquidity with $12.5 billion in AUM versus $4.1 billion for SLYV.

Yet, SLYV tops IWN on some other key ETF metrics. SLYV, for example, has a lower expense ratio (0.15% vs. 0.24%). It also boasts a higher dividend yield of 1.9% compared to IWN’s 1.6%.

In summary, IWN’s diversification, higher recent returns, and larger assets under management may appeal to investors seeking scale.

On the other hand, SLYV’s lower expense ratio and slightly higher yield could attract those focused on cost efficiency.

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_\*Stock Advisor returns as of March 16, 2026._

_Jake Lerch has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends LKQ. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy._

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.

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