What is the Russell 1000 YTD return in 2026?
The Russell 1000 is up +13.37% year to date with dividends reinvested (total return through Sep 4, 2026), or +12.87% on price alone — dividends have added 0.50 points so far. IWB started the year at $373.44 and closed at $421.50. That makes 2026 the 8th best start in 26 years of data through this date.
Price return vs total return#
Total return assumes distributions are reinvested; price return measures only the change in the ETF's share price. The 0.50 percentage-point gap is the contribution from dividends so far this year.
2026 YTD daily chart#
Daily IWB price since the final market close of 2025. Hover for the close, price YTD, total return YTD with dividends reinvested, and that day's price move.
- Total-return high
- +14.6% · Aug 13, 2026
- Total-return low
- -6.9% · Mar 30, 2026
- Max drawdown YTD
- -8.9%
- All-time-high closes
- 27 days
How 2026 compares with previous years#
Every year is measured through Sep 4 — the same calendar date as the current result — so the comparison is not skewed by full-year outcomes.
Years that looked like this one
The five closest starts to 2026's +13.4%, each traced through its full year — labels show how each finished. 2026's path so far is the bold line.
2012 (+13.3% then → finished +16.5%) · 2017 (+11.9% then → finished +21.5%) · 2025 (+11.3% then → finished +17.2%) · 2024 (+15.7% then → finished +24.3%) · 2009 (+15.9% then → finished +28.3%).
Every year's YTD return through the same date#
Ranked by total return through Sep 4, with each completed calendar year's final return alongside it.
Best starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | +21.2% | +26.3% |
| 2003 | +18.9% | +29.6% |
| 2023 | +18.8% | +26.4% |
| 2019 | +18.7% | +31.1% |
| 2013 | +17.9% | +32.8% |
Worst starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | -21.5% | -22.3% |
| 2022 | -17.7% | -19.2% |
| 2008 | -14.1% | -37.4% |
| 2001 | -13.4% | -12.1% |
| 2011 | -5.8% | +1.2% |
| Rank | Year | YTD through this date | Full-year return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021 | +21.2% | +26.3% |
| 2 | 2003 | +18.9% | +29.6% |
| 3 | 2023 | +18.8% | +26.4% |
| 4 | 2019 | +18.7% | +31.1% |
| 5 | 2013 | +17.9% | +32.8% |
| 6 | 2009 | +15.9% | +28.3% |
| 7 | 2024 | +15.7% | +24.3% |
| 8 | 2026 (now) | +13.4% | — |
| 9 | 2012 | +13.3% | +16.5% |
| 10 | 2017 | +11.9% | +21.5% |
| 11 | 2025 | +11.3% | +17.2% |
| 12 | 2018 | +9.7% | -4.9% |
| 13 | 2014 | +9.5% | +13.1% |
| 14 | 2016 | +8.3% | +12.0% |
| 15 | 2020 | +7.8% | +20.8% |
| 16 | 2007 | +6.2% | +5.3% |
| 17 | 2006 | +6.0% | +15.4% |
| 18 | 2005 | +3.3% | +6.3% |
| 19 | 2004 | +1.1% | +11.0% |
| 20 | 2010 | +0.7% | +16.1% |
| 21 | 2015 | -5.1% | +0.8% |
| 22 | 2011 | -5.8% | +1.2% |
| 23 | 2001 | -13.4% | -12.1% |
| 24 | 2008 | -14.1% | -37.4% |
| 25 | 2022 | -17.7% | -19.2% |
| 26 | 2002 | -21.5% | -22.3% |
2026 monthly YTD chart#
Each bar is one calendar month's total return; the current month runs through Sep 4, 2026.
2026 YTD return by month#
Monthly total return and the compounded year-to-date result after each month.
| Month | Monthly return | Cumulative YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | +1.3% | +1.3% |
| Feb | -0.6% | +0.8% |
| Mar | -5.0% | -4.3% |
| Apr | +10.2% | +5.4% |
| May | +5.1% | +10.8% |
| Jun | -0.6% | +10.1% |
| Jul | -0.3% | +9.8% |
| Aug | +2.8% | +12.9% |
| Sep | +0.4% | +13.4% |
Notes & related#
Returns are computed from IWB (the Russell 1000 ETF): total return uses dividend-adjusted closes, price return uses split-adjusted closes only. “YTD through the same date” compares each year at the identical month-day, so early-year rankings aren't skewed by full-year outcomes. Data updates after each market close.
Keep going: Russell 1000 returns by year, monthly returns, or the drawdown record.
More on Russell 1000
- Returns by year+13.4%
- Monthly returns+0.4%
- Weekly returns+0.1%
- Trailing returns+19.3%
- Drawdown from high−1.1%