Data as of Oct 28, 2026.
IWM vs SFEB: Differences, Returns & Fees
Over the year to Oct 28, 2026, IWM returned +14.1% to SFEB's +12.0%, and IWM charges 0.19% to SFEB's 0.90%.
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Net assets on Oct 27, 2026: $75.5bn for iShares Russell 2000 ETF and $129m for FT Vest U.S. Small Cap Moderate Buffer ETF - February.
Pair scorecard
IWM costs 0.71 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 2.1 points; IWM is far larger, $75.5bn against $129m.
| Measure | IWM | SFEB |
|---|---|---|
| Return | ||
| Total return, 1 year | +14.1% | +12.0% |
| Drawdown | ||
| Below its high | 7.6%, high on Aug 14, 2026 | |
| Index fall to the buffer | 5.9% | |
| Fund price fall to the buffer | 6.4% | |
| Benchmark | ||
| What it tracks | Russell 2000 Index | IWM |
| The outcome period | ||
| Room to the cap | 10.0% | |
| Buffer left, in index points | 15.0% of 15.0% | |
| Days left in the period | 114 | |
| Period ends | Feb 19, 2027 | |
| Cost and size | ||
| Expense ratio | 0.19% | 0.90% |
| Net assets, as of Oct 27, 2026 | $75.5bn | $129m |
| Holdings | ||
| Holdings in common | not published | |
| In the S&P 500, by weight | 0% | |
| Top ten holdings, share of the fund | 3.3% | |
Side by side
IWM and SFEB on the fields both publish, as of Oct 28, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
IWM
IWM tracks the Russell 2000. Over the year to Oct 28, 2026 it returned +14.1% with distributions reinvested, against +14.3% for its benchmark, the Russell 2000 Index. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.19% a year. By its holdings published by its issuer for Oct 27, 2026, 0% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 1,977 positions, with the top ten at 3.3%. It sat 7.6% below its high of Aug 14, 2026 on Oct 28, 2026.
SFEB
From its price on Oct 28, 2026, the fund can gain about 10.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 6.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, IWM can fall 5.9% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's IWM level. 114 days remained on Oct 28, 2026. On Feb 19, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.
Questions people ask
- Are IWM and SFEB in the same category?
- IWM is a stock ETF and SFEB is a buffer ETF, so they do different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and holdings.
- Which returned more over the last year, IWM or SFEB?
- In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, IWM returned +14.1% and SFEB +12.0%.
- Which is cheaper, IWM or SFEB?
- IWM is cheaper, by 0.71 percentage points a year. That is about $71 on $10,000 held for a year. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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ETFIQ, IWM against SFEB, data as of Oct 28, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iwm-vs-sfeb
ETFIQ. (Oct 28, 2026). IWM against SFEB. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iwm-vs-sfeb
[IWM against SFEB (ETFIQ, Oct 28, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iwm-vs-sfeb)
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