SUMMARY

We rate iShares Russell 3000 Growth at C+. Positive factors that influence this rating include a greater than above average total return, low price volatility and low expense structure. The fund invests approximately 100% of its assets in stocks and may be considered for investors seeking a Growth - Domestic strategy.

POSITIVES AND RISKS

Total return ranks above peers over the last three years. The iShares Russell 3000 Growth has returned an annual rate of -0.27% since inception. More recently, the fund has generated a total return of 6.41% in the last five years, 12.72% in the last three years, and 10.06% in the last year. How does that compare to other equity funds? In the last five years, it has outperformed 50% of them. It has also outpaced 63% of its competitors on a three year basis and 49% of them over the last year for the period ending 3/31/2013. On a year to date basis, IWZ has returned 9.62%.

Downside risk has been below average. IWZ has a draw down risk of -16.68%, which is the largest price decline experienced over the last three years. This fund has a three year standard deviation of 15.7%. This fund has had moderate volatility in its monthly performance over the last 36 months. As of 3/31/2013, the fund was trading at a price of $58.35, which is 0.2% below its 52-week high of $58.46 and 4.1% above its 52-week low of $56.05.

Low expense ratio helps performance. On total assets of $388.50 million, IWZ maintains a low expense ratio compared to its Growth - Domestic peers of just 0.25% to cover all operating costs. Brokerage costs for the fund to buy and sell shares are not included in the expense ratio. As IWZ is an exchange traded fund, it has no front end or back end load.

The iShares Russell 3000 Growth is managed by Diane Hsiung at BlackRock Fund Advisors. This fund is one of 283 BlackRock Fund Advisors exchange-traded funds launched since 3/12/1996 that we track.