The iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), which tracks small-cap stocks, has experienced a notable rally in August 2025, gaining approximately 8.2% so far this month, marking its best August performance of the century. The ETF is approaching a 52-week high and is less than 5% away from reaching all-time highs. This performance represents a 12% increase since the formation of a Golden Cross technical pattern. Compared to the S&P 500 ETF (SPY), IWM has outperformed, achieving a 6-month high relative to SPY and generating nearly 4.9% alpha in August 2025, its best monthly relative performance since July 2024. Market indicators also suggest a strong shift toward risk-on sentiment, with ratios such as EW Discretionary vs. EW Staples (RSPD/RSPS) and high-beta vs. low-volatility stocks (SPHB/SPLV) reaching new highs. Additionally, U.S. index ETFs across various market capitalizations, including SPY, QQQ, and IWM, are set to finish August in overbought territory, with small-cap stocks in extreme overbought conditions, trading more than two standard deviations above their 50-day moving averages.
US index ETFs across the market cap spectrum are set to end August universally overbought, with small-caps in "extreme" territory (>2 standard deviations above their 50-DMAs). $SPY $QQQ $IWM https://t.co/y4TaCZ28z6
$IWM gunning for its best month vs $SPY since July 2024 4.9% of alpha with one session to go. https://t.co/DRwOQD1Fh9
Both RSPD/RSPS (EW Discretionary vs. EW Staples) and SPHB/SPLV (high-beta vs. low-vol) are making new highs, signaling a strong shift toward “risk on” sentiment. via @KoyfinCharts https://t.co/TZqCETVgNd