The iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB) and the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. IWB is a iShares Large Blend fund and SCHG is a Schwab ETFs Large Growth fund. So, what’s the difference between IWB and SCHG? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of IWB is 0.11 percentage points higher than SCHG’s (0.15% vs. 0.04%). IWB also has a lower exposure to the technology sector and a lower standard deviation. Overall, IWB has provided lower returns than SCHG over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare IWB vs. SCHG. We’ll look at performance and industry exposure, as well as at their risk metrics and annual returns. Moreover, I’ll also discuss IWB’s and SCHG’s holdings, portfolio growth, and fund composition and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| IWB | SCHG | |
| Name | iShares Russell 1000 ETF | Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF |
| Category | Large Blend | Large Growth |
| Issuer | iShares | Schwab ETFs |
| AUM | 30.54B | 15.16B |
| Avg. Return | 14.64% | 17.81% |
| Div. Yield | 1.14% | 0.43% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.04% |
The iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB) is a Large Blend fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 30.54B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 14.64% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.14% with an expense ratio of 0.15%.
The Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) is a Large Growth fund that is issued by Schwab ETFs. It currently has 15.16B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 17.81% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.43% with an expense ratio of 0.04%.
IWB’s dividend yield is 0.71% higher than that of SCHG (1.14% vs. 0.43%). Also, IWB yielded on average 3.17% less per year over the past decade (14.64% vs. 17.81%). The expense ratio of IWB is 0.11 percentage points higher than SCHG’s (0.15% vs. 0.04%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| IWB | SCHG | |
| Technology | 25.33% | 39.21% |
| Industrials | 8.88% | 3.01% |
| Energy | 2.44% | 0.2% |
| Communication Services | 10.83% | 17.07% |
| Utilities | 2.36% | 0.0% |
| Healthcare | 13.35% | 12.05% |
| Consumer Defensive | 5.97% | 2.15% |
| Real Estate | 3.34% | 1.64% |
| Financial Services | 13.64% | 7.98% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 11.85% | 15.01% |
| Basic Materials | 2.02% | 1.68% |
The iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 25.33%. This is followed by Financial Services and Healthcare at 13.64% and 13.35% respectively. Utilities (2.36%), Energy (2.44%), and Real Estate (3.34%) only make up 8.14% of the fund’s total assets.
IWB’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Industrials, Communication Services, Consumer Cyclical, and Healthcare stocks at 5.97%, 8.88%, 10.83%, 11.85%, and 13.35%.
The Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 39.21%. This is followed by Communication Services and Consumer Cyclical at 17.07% and 15.01% respectively. Energy (0.2%), Real Estate (1.64%), and Basic Materials (1.68%) only make up 3.52% of the fund’s total assets.
SCHG’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Industrials, Financial Services, Healthcare, and Consumer Cyclical stocks at 2.15%, 3.01%, 7.98%, 12.05%, and 15.01%.
IWB is 13.88% less exposed to the Technology sector than SCHG (25.33% vs 39.21%). IWB’s exposure to Financial Services and Healthcare stocks is 5.66% higher and 1.30% higher respectively (13.64% vs. 7.98% and 13.35% vs. 12.05%). In total, Utilities, Energy, and Real Estate also make up 6.30% more of the fund’s holdings compared to SCHG (8.14% vs. 1.84%).
Holdings
| IWB Holdings | Weight |
| Apple Inc | 5.45% |
| Microsoft Corp | 5.11% |
| Amazon.com Inc | 3.43% |
| Facebook Inc Class A | 2.03% |
| Alphabet Inc Class A | 1.93% |
| Alphabet Inc Class C | 1.82% |
| Tesla Inc | 1.27% |
| Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B | 1.24% |
| NVIDIA Corp | 1.11% |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co | 1.09% |
IWB’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Facebook Inc Class A, and Alphabet Inc Class A at 5.45%, 5.11%, 3.43%, 2.03%, and 1.93%.
Alphabet Inc Class C (1.82%), Tesla Inc (1.27%), and Berkshire Hathaway Inc Class B (1.24%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. NVIDIA Corp and JPMorgan Chase & Co are also represented in the IWB’s holdings at 1.11% and 1.09%.
| SCHG Holdings | Weight |
| Apple Inc | 11.49% |
| Microsoft Corp | 10.91% |
| Amazon.com Inc | 7.89% |
| Facebook Inc A | 4.45% |
| Alphabet Inc A | 3.93% |
| Alphabet Inc Class C | 3.82% |
| Tesla Inc | 2.8% |
| NVIDIA Corp | 2.67% |
| Visa Inc Class A | 2.12% |
| UnitedHealth Group Inc | 2.02% |
SCHG’s Top Holdings are Apple Inc, Microsoft Corp, Amazon.com Inc, Facebook Inc A, and Alphabet Inc A at 11.49%, 10.91%, 7.89%, 4.45%, and 3.93%.
Alphabet Inc Class C (3.82%), Tesla Inc (2.8%), and NVIDIA Corp (2.67%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Visa Inc Class A and UnitedHealth Group Inc are also represented in the SCHG’s holdings at 2.12% and 2.02%.
Risk Analysis
| IWB | SCHG | |
| Mean Return | 1.27 | 1.46 |
| R-squared | 99.73 | 92.92 |
| Std. Deviation | 13.87 | 14.78 |
| Alpha | -0.38 | 1.97 |
| Beta | 1.02 | 1.05 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.05 | 1.14 |
| Treynor Ratio | 14.31 | 16.3 |
The iShares Russell 1000 ETF (IWB) has a Mean Return of 1.27 with a Alpha of -0.38 and a R-squared of 99.73. Its Sharpe Ratio is 1.05 while IWB’s Standard Deviation is 13.87. Furthermore, the fund has a Treynor Ratio of 14.31 and a Beta of 1.02.
The Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF (SCHG) has a Beta of 1.05 with a R-squared of 92.92 and a Sharpe Ratio of 1.14. Its Alpha is 1.97 while SCHG’s Treynor Ratio is 16.3. Furthermore, the fund has a Mean Return of 1.46 and a Standard Deviation of 14.78.
IWB’s Mean Return is 0.19 points lower than that of SCHG and its R-squared is 6.81 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 13.87, IWB is slightly less volatile than SCHG. The Alpha and Beta of IWB are 2.35 points lower and 0.03 points lower than SCHG’s Alpha and Beta.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | IWB | SCHG |
| 2020 | 20.8% | 39.13% |
| 2019 | 31.26% | 36.21% |
| 2018 | -4.91% | -1.35% |
| 2017 | 21.53% | 28.04% |
| 2016 | 11.91% | 6.76% |
| 2015 | 0.82% | 3.26% |
| 2014 | 13.08% | 15.74% |
| 2013 | 32.93% | 33.96% |
| 2012 | 16.27% | 17.02% |
| 2011 | 1.36% | -0.67% |
| 2010 | 15.94% | 16.83% |
IWB had its best year in 2013 with an annual return of 32.93%. IWB’s worst year over the past decade yielded -4.91% and occurred in 2018. In most years the iShares Russell 1000 ETF provided moderate returns such as in 2014, 2010, and 2012 where annual returns amounted to 13.08%, 15.94%, and 16.27% respectively.
The year 2020 was the strongest year for SCHG, returning 39.13% on an annual basis. The poorest year for SCHG in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -1.35%. Most years the Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF has given investors modest returns, such as in 2014, 2010, and 2012, when gains were 15.74%, 16.83%, and 17.02% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| IWB | $10,000 | $36,624 | 14.64% |
| SCHG | $10,000 | $47,556 | 17.81% |
A $10,000 investment in IWB would have resulted in a final balance of $36,624. This is a profit of $26,624 over 10 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.64%.
With a $10,000 investment in SCHG, the end total would have been $47,556. This equates to a $37,556 profit over 10 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.81%.
IWB’s CAGR is 3.17 percentage points lower than that of SCHG and as a result, would have yielded $10,932 less on a $10,000 investment. Thus, IWB performed worse than SCHG by 3.17% annually.
Current recommendations:
Over the past years, I have discovered several tools and products that have helped me tremendously on my path to financial freedom:
P.S.: The links below are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you when you sign up for one of the services. Thank you for your support!
1)Personal Capital is simply the best tool out there to track your net worth and plan for financial freedom. Just their retirement planner alone has become an invaluable tool to keep myself on track financially. Try it out, it's free!
2) Take a look at M1 Finance, my favorite broker. I love how easy it is to invest and maintain my portfolio with them. I can set up automatic transfers, rebalance my portfolio with one click and even borrow up to 35% of my assets at super low interest rates!
3) Fundrise is by far the best way I've found to invest in Real Estate. You can diversify your portfolio by investing in their eREITs or even allocate capital to individual properties (without the hassle of managing tenants!).
4) Groundfloor is another great way to get exposure to the real estate sector by investing in short-term, high-yield real estate debt. Current returns are >10% and you can get started with just $10.
5) If you are interested in startup investing, check out Mainvest. I've started allocating a small amount of assets to invest in and support small businesses. Return targets are between 10-25% and you can start with just $100!
To see all of my most up-to-date recommendations, check out the Recommended Tools section.
I believe that money is just a means to an end: to be free to spend your time as you wish, to maximize your positive impact on the world.
