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IWF iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF

Category: Large Cap Growth Equities

Inception: 2000-05-22 Issuer: BlackRock, Inc.
Net Assets
$96.2B
Expense Ratio
0.19 %
# of Holdings
395
Average Daily Volume
1.93M

Fund Overview

The iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) is an exchange-traded fund that seeks to track the investment results of the Russell 1000 Growth Index. This index measures the performance of large- and mid-capitalization growth stocks in the United States. IWF provides investors with exposure to companies that exhibit higher growth characteristics, such as strong earnings growth, revenue growth, and high price-to-book ratios. The fund is widely used by investors looking to capitalize on the potential outperformance of growth stocks over value stocks in certain market conditions. With a diverse portfolio spanning sectors like technology, healthcare, and consumer discretionary, IWF is a popular choice for those seeking growth-oriented equity exposure.
Asset Class
Equity
Industry
N/A
Annual Dividend Rate
Smart Beta
Yes
Leveraged / Inverse
N/A / No
Dividend Quality - Yield
 - 0.40 %
Currency Hedged
No
Portfolio Turnover
12 %
Dividend Date

Why Invest in the IWF ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Provides exposure to high-growth U.S. large- and mid-cap stocks, which may outperform in bullish markets.
  • Diversified across sectors, reducing concentration risk compared to single-sector growth ETFs.
  • Low expense ratio (0.19%) makes it cost-effective for long-term investors.
  • Liquidity is high due to large assets under management (AUM) and tight bid-ask spreads.
  • Tracks a well-established index (Russell 1000 Growth) with transparent methodology.
  • Offers potential for capital appreciation as growth stocks often lead during economic expansions.

Potential Risks

  • Growth stocks can be more volatile and underperform during market downturns or rising interest rates.
  • Heavy concentration in technology and consumer discretionary sectors increases sector-specific risks.
  • Valuation risks are present as growth stocks often trade at higher P/E ratios.
  • Performance may lag during value-driven market cycles.
  • Index-based approach means no active management to mitigate downturns.
  • Market-cap weighting can lead to top-heavy exposure to mega-cap growth stocks.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2025 2024 Since Inception
+3.10% +5.11% +9.67% +92.96% +92.55% +9.83% +18.60% +35.13% +765.37%

Performance


Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2026 -1.6% -3.4% -5.2% +11.9% +7.2% -2.8% -4.7% +3.7% +2.2% +3.1% - -
2025 +1.9% -3.6% -8.4% +1.6% +8.9% +6.4% +3.7% +1.2% +5.2% +3.7% -1.9% -0.6%
2024 +2.4% +6.6% +1.9% -4.2% +6.0% +6.6% -1.7% +2.0% +2.9% -0.4% +6.5% +0.9%
2023 +8.3% -1.2% +6.8% +1.0% +4.7% +6.7% +3.4% -1.0% -5.5% -1.5% +11.0% +4.4%
2022 -8.7% -4.2% +4.0% -12.2% -2.3% -8.0% +12.1% -4.7% -9.7% +5.8% +4.5% -7.7%
2021 -0.8% 0.0% +1.8% +6.9% -1.4% +6.1% +3.4% +3.6% -5.6% +8.7% +0.6% +2.0%
2020 +2.3% -6.6% -10.0% +14.7% +6.7% +4.3% +7.8% +10.2% -4.6% -3.4% +10.3% +4.4%
2019 +8.9% +3.6% +2.8% +4.4% -6.2% +6.5% +2.5% -0.9% +0.1% +2.8% +4.4% +2.9%
2018 +6.9% -2.6% -2.7% +0.3% +4.4% +1.0% +2.9% +5.4% +0.6% -8.9% +0.9% -8.4%
2017 +3.3% +4.1% +1.2% +2.2% +2.6% -0.3% +2.6% +1.8% +1.2% +3.9% +2.9% +0.9%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
MSFT MICROSOFT CORP 10.9 %
AAPL APPLE INC 10.5 %
NVDA NVIDIA CORP 9.3 %
AMZN AMAZON.COM INC 6.7 %
META META PLATFORMS INC CLASS A 4.3 %
GOOGL ALPHABET INC CLASS A 3.6 %
AVGO BROADCOM INC 3.0 %
GOOG ALPHABET INC CLASS C 3.0 %
TSLA TESLA INC 2.7 %
LLY ELI LILLY AND CO 2.5 %
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 395 total holdings.

Related ETFs: IWF vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
IVW iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF 0.18 % $51.5B 212 Equity
IWB iShares Russell 1000 ETF 0.15 % $37.2B 1 Equity
IWO iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF 0.24 % $10.8B 1 Equity
IWP iShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF 0.23 % $16.6B 288 Equity
IWV iShares Russell 3000 ETF 0.20 % $14.4B 2 Equity
QQQ Invesco QQQ Trust Series I 0.20 % $297.5B 102 Equity
SCHG Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF 0.04 % $34.8B 227 Equity
SPYG SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF 0.04 % $30.5B 212 Equity
VOT Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth ETF 0.07 % $27.2B 141 Equity
VUG Vanguard Growth ETF 0.04 % $260.8B 180 Equity
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

IWF tracks the Russell 1000 Growth Index, which selects U.S. large- and mid-cap stocks exhibiting growth characteristics. The index uses a composite of three factors: medium-term growth in earnings, sales, and price-to-book ratios. The fund is market-cap weighted, meaning larger companies have a greater impact on performance. It primarily holds common stocks and is passively managed, with semi-annual rebalancing to align with index changes. The strategy aims to capture the performance of high-growth companies while maintaining broad diversification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between IWF and IWD?

IWF tracks the Russell 1000 Growth Index (growth stocks), while IWD tracks the Russell 1000 Value Index (value stocks). They represent opposing investment styles within the same market capitalization range.

Does IWF pay dividends?

Yes, IWF pays quarterly dividends, though typically at lower yields than value-oriented ETFs, as growth companies often reinvest earnings rather than distribute them.

How often is IWF rebalanced?

The fund's underlying index is reconstituted annually in June, with quarterly updates in March, September, and December to account for IPOs and other changes.

What percentage of IWF is invested in technology stocks?

As of recent data, technology represents approximately 40-45% of IWF's holdings, reflecting the sector's dominance in growth indices.

Is IWF suitable for retirement accounts?

IWF can be appropriate for retirement accounts with long time horizons, though investors nearing retirement may want to balance it with more conservative holdings due to its volatility.

Industry Overview

The iShares Russell 1000 Growth ETF (IWF) invests in the growth segment of the U.S. equity market, focusing on companies expected to grow earnings at an above-average rate. Growth investing is a popular strategy for investors seeking capital appreciation, particularly in sectors like technology, healthcare, and consumer discretionary. These sectors often benefit from innovation, demographic trends, and economic expansion. However, growth stocks can be sensitive to interest rate changes and macroeconomic conditions. IWF offers a convenient way to gain diversified exposure to this segment without selecting individual stocks.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to VUG (Vanguard Growth ETF), IWF has a slightly higher expense ratio (0.19% vs. 0.04%) but offers exposure to mid-cap growth stocks in addition to large caps. Unlike QQQ, which is heavily concentrated in tech, IWF provides broader sector diversification. SCHG (Schwab U.S. Large-Cap Growth ETF) is another close peer but tracks a different index (Dow Jones U.S. Large-Cap Growth Total Stock Market Index), resulting in slightly different holdings and performance. IWF's use of the Russell methodology may appeal to investors seeking a more traditional growth stock selection approach.

Issuer Overview

iShares, a subsidiary of BlackRock, is the largest ETF provider globally, known for its extensive range of index-tracking funds. With trillions in assets under management, iShares ETFs are widely recognized for their liquidity, transparency, and cost efficiency. The issuer's strong reputation and robust infrastructure make IWF a reliable choice for investors seeking growth exposure.

Conclusion

IWF is a well-established ETF offering diversified exposure to U.S. growth stocks, making it suitable for investors with a long-term horizon and higher risk tolerance. Its low cost, liquidity, and transparent indexing approach make it a core holding for many growth-oriented portfolios. However, investors should be mindful of the inherent volatility and sector concentrations that come with growth investing.

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