October 19, 2009 (FinancialWire) — Comparing performance of the SPDR Trust ETF (NYSE: SPY) to the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (NYSE: IWM) and the iShares Russell Microcap ETF (NYSE: IWC) provides a fair representation of how small- and micro-cap stocks are faring in relation to their greater capitalized counterparts.

Fifty trading sessions ago, as of August 7, 2009’s close, both the Russell 2000 ETF and the Russell Microcap ETF were outperforming the SPDR Trust ETF by over 100%, in terms of overall 50-day gain-loss percentage comparisons. The Russell 2000 led all three ETFs marking an overall 14.20% ($7.10 per share) 50-day gain, followed by the Russell Microcap ETF marking an overall 12.92% ($4.11 per share) 50-day gain, followed by the SPDR Trust’s overall 6.00% ($5.65 per share) 50-day gain.

In terms of 50-day rolling average trading volume and per share value through August 7th, the Russell Microcap had been trading an average daily volume of 167,456 shares with an average per share closing value of $32.17, the Russell 2000 had been trading an average daily volume of 46,737,660 shares with an average per share closing value of $51.11, and the SPDR Trust had been trading an average daily volume of 196,097,490 shares with an average per share closing value of $88.03.

As of Friday’s close (October 16, 2009), looking back at the most recent fifty trading sessions, performance disparity has lessened, but the micro- and small-cap ETFs remain the performance leaders. The Russell Microcap ETF has posted an overall 12.65% ($4.54 per share) 50-day gain on average daily volume of 134,794 shares, closing at $40.00 per share. The Russell 2000 ETF has posted an overall 10.90% ($6.06 per share) 50-day gain on average daily volume of 44,153,596 shares, closing at $61.68 per share. The SPDR Trust ETF has posted an overall 8.93% ($8.99 per share) 50-day gain on average daily volume of 175,239,154 shares, closing at $108.89 per share.

Side-by side summary comparisons for the three ETFs show the Russell Microcap ETF’s 50-day rolling average daily volume has decreased from 167,456 to 134,794 shares, while its per-share value has increased from $36.95 to $40.00 per share; The Russell 2000 ETF’s 50-day rolling average daily volume has decreased from 46,737,660 to 44,153,596 shares, while its per-share value has increased from $57.09 to $61.68 per share; The SPDR Trust ETF’s 50-day rolling average daily volume has decreased from 196,097,490 to 175,239,154 shares, while its per-share value has increased from $101.20 to $108.89 per share.

In terms of overall money movement, the SPDR Trust ETF’s current market capitalization is $69 billion with 634.1 million shares outstanding, accounting for a daily average of over $17.4 billion in trading. The Russell 2000 and Russell Microcap ETF’s combined market capitalization is $12.5 billion with 205.7 million shares outstanding, accounting for a daily average of over $2.6 billion in trading.

In terms of liquidity, it is also noteworthy that, on average, the SPDR Trust and Russell 2000 ETFs are trading roughly 25% of their total market caps, while the Russell Microcap ETF is trading under 2% of its total market cap.

About The ETFs:

The iShares Russell 2000 ETF invests in approximately 2000 of the smallest capitalization-weighted companies in the Russell 3000 index, yielding investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Index, investing in at least 90% of assets in the securities of the underlying index. It uses a representative sampling strategy to track the Russell 2000 Index, which measures the performance of the small-capitalization sector of the US equity broad market.

The iShares Russell Microcap ETF investment results correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell Microcap index, investing at least 90% of assets in the securities of that underlying index. The ETF uses a representative sampling strategy to track the Russell Microcap Index. The index, itself, is capitalization-weighted and includes companies ranging in total market capitalization from approximately $50 million to $550 million, which represents approximately 3% of the market capitalization of listed U.S. equity securities.

The SPDR Trust is an exchange-traded fund that holds all of the S&P 500 Index stocks, and corresponds generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Index. It is comprised of undivided ownership interests called SPDRs. The fund issues and redeems SPDRs in multiples of 50,000 SPDRs in exchange for S&P 500 Index stocks and cash.

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Free annual reports for ETF component companies are available through the Free Annual Reports Service (http://investrend.ar.wilink.com/?level=279).

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