Should iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Core Viewpoint - The iShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF (IWS) is a significant player in the Mid Cap Value segment of the US equity market, with over $13.43 billion in assets, and aims to provide broad exposure to this sector [1]. Group 1: ETF Overview - IWS was launched on July 17, 2001, and is passively managed by Blackrock [1]. - The ETF targets mid-cap companies with market capitalizations between $2 billion and $10 billion, balancing stability and growth potential [2]. Group 2: Value Stocks Characteristics - Value stocks, which IWS focuses on, typically have lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, along with lower sales and earnings growth rates [3]. - Historically, value stocks have outperformed growth stocks in long-term performance, although growth stocks may excel in strong bull markets [3]. Group 3: Costs and Performance - The annual operating expenses for IWS are 0.23%, which is competitive within its peer group, and it has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.57% [4]. - IWS aims to match the performance of the Russell MidCap Value Index, with a year-to-date return of approximately 4.18% and a one-year return of about 11.37% as of August 7, 2025 [7]. Group 4: Sector Exposure and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Industrials sector, comprising about 17.7% of the portfolio, followed by Financials and Real Estate [5]. - Coinbase Global Inc Class A (COIN) represents about 0.72% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for approximately 6.08% of total assets under management [6]. Group 5: Risk and Alternatives - IWS has a beta of 1.00 and a standard deviation of 17.35% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [8]. - Alternatives to IWS include the First Trust SMID Cap Rising Dividend Achievers ETF (SDVY) and the Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF (VOE), with respective assets of $8.36 billion and $18.16 billion [10].