Russell 2000
IndexWhat is the Russell 2000 YTD return in 2026?
The Russell 2000 is up +20.65% year to date with dividends reinvested (total return through Aug 28, 2026), or +20.15% on price alone — dividends have added 0.50 points so far. IWM started the year at $246.16 and closed at $295.75. That makes 2026 the 2nd 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 total return since the final market close of 2025, with dividends reinvested.
- High of the year
- +24.5% · Aug 14, 2026
- Low of the year
- -2.5% · Mar 30, 2026
- Max drawdown YTD
- -11.0%
- All-time-high closes
- 29 days
How 2026 compares with previous years#
Every year is measured through Aug 28 — 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 +20.6%, each traced through its full year — labels show how each finished. 2026's path so far is the bold line.
2013 (+20.6% then → finished +38.7%) · 2009 (+18.7% then → finished +28.5%) · 2021 (+15.9% then → finished +14.5%) · 2018 (+13.5% then → finished -11.1%) · 2012 (+11.2% then → finished +16.7%).
Every year's YTD return through the same date#
Ranked by total return through Aug 28, with each completed calendar year's final return alongside it.
Best starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | +30.8% | +47.6% |
| 2026 (now) | +20.6% | — |
| 2013 | +20.6% | +38.7% |
| 2009 | +18.7% | +28.5% |
| 2021 | +15.9% | +14.5% |
Worst starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | -18.7% | -20.4% |
| 2022 | -14.7% | -20.5% |
| 2011 | -11.2% | -4.4% |
| 2020 | -4.5% | +20.0% |
| 2015 | -2.6% | -4.5% |
| Rank | Year | YTD through this date | Full-year return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003 | +30.8% | +47.6% |
| 2 | 2026 (now) | +20.6% | — |
| 3 | 2013 | +20.6% | +38.7% |
| 4 | 2009 | +18.7% | +28.5% |
| 5 | 2021 | +15.9% | +14.5% |
| 6 | 2018 | +13.5% | -11.1% |
| 7 | 2012 | +11.2% | +16.7% |
| 8 | 2016 | +10.2% | +21.6% |
| 9 | 2019 | +10.1% | +25.4% |
| 10 | 2024 | +8.8% | +11.4% |
| 11 | 2025 | +7.4% | +12.7% |
| 12 | 2023 | +7.2% | +16.8% |
| 13 | 2006 | +5.8% | +18.3% |
| 14 | 2017 | +2.7% | +14.6% |
| 15 | 2014 | +1.1% | +5.0% |
| 16 | 2005 | +0.3% | +4.5% |
| 17 | 2004 | -0.5% | +18.1% |
| 18 | 2001 | -0.6% | +1.8% |
| 19 | 2010 | -0.7% | +26.9% |
| 20 | 2008 | -1.3% | -34.1% |
| 21 | 2007 | -1.5% | -1.8% |
| 22 | 2015 | -2.6% | -4.5% |
| 23 | 2020 | -4.5% | +20.0% |
| 24 | 2011 | -11.2% | -4.4% |
| 25 | 2022 | -14.7% | -20.5% |
| 26 | 2002 | -18.7% | -20.4% |
2026 monthly YTD chart#
Each bar is one calendar month's total return; the current month runs through Aug 28, 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 | +5.5% | +5.5% |
| Feb | +0.7% | +6.2% |
| Mar | -5.0% | +0.9% |
| Apr | +12.1% | +13.1% |
| May | +4.5% | +18.2% |
| Jun | +3.7% | +22.6% |
| Jul | -3.1% | +18.8% |
| Aug | +1.6% | +20.6% |
Notes & related#
Returns are computed from IWM (the Russell 2000 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 2000 returns by year, monthly returns, or the drawdown record.