finance
Russell 2000 Rises 17.7 Percent Year to Date, Outpacing S&P 500
The Russell 2000 index has gained more than 17.7 percent in 2026, compared with a 10 percent advance for the S&P 500. Wells Fargo Investment Institute stated that recent small-cap momentum appears disconnected from weakening fundamentals.
May 28, 3:24 PM·1m read1 source
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The Russell 2000 index has gained more than 17.7 percent so far in 2026, compared with a 10 percent advance for the S&P 500. The performance has drawn investor attention to small-cap exchange-traded funds.
The iShares Russell 2000 ETF has recorded more than $8 billion in net outflows this year. In contrast, the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has received roughly $2 billion in inflows. Wells Fargo Investment Institute stated that the recent momentum in small-cap stocks appears disconnected from weakening underlying fundamentals, including deteriorating earnings expectations, lower profitability, and elevated debt burdens.
MarketWatch reported the institute's assessment that investors are becoming more selective within the small-cap space rather than broadly embracing the rally.
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