ETF Comparison

IJH vs IJR: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF and iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated August 24, 2026

Best for

IJHInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
IJRInvestors who want broad equity exposure.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

IJH has lagged IJR over the trailing twelve months, posting a 22.38% total return against 30.67%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IJH has compounded at 11.05% a year, ahead of IJR at 10.73%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since May 2000	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
IJH	15.29%	22.38%	15.76%	9.06%	11.05%	9.90%	17.9%	0.57	0.83	-24.1%
IJR	21.93%	30.67%	16.28%	7.98%	10.73%	10.19%	20.2%	0.53	0.78	-28.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 21, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since May 2000” measures every fund from May 26, 2000 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
Metric	IJH	IJR
Full name	iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF	iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF
Issuer	iShares	iShares
Underlying index	S&P MidCap 400 Index	S&P SmallCap 600 Index
Last Close	$76.77 as of August 24, 2026	$147.31 as of August 24, 2026
Distribution yield	0.98%	1.18%
Distribution Safety Score™	93	70
Expense ratio	0.05%	0.06%
AUM	$126B	$111B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Objective	Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.	Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	05/22/2000	05/22/2000
Beta	1.0	1.07
Last dividend	$0.1890	$0.4330
Ex-dividend date	06/15/2026	06/15/2026

Bottom lineIJH and IJR are both for investors who want broad equity exposure — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Fees and payouts are close too, so it comes down to which your broker offers commission-free and any share-price or tax-lot preference.

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See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

iShares

ETFs466

Total AUM$4679B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

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Quick verdict

IJH (iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF) and IJR (iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

IJR offers the higher yield at 1.18% vs 0.98% for IJH. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

IJH is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.05% compared to 0.06%.

They track different benchmarks: IJH is linked to S&P MidCap 400 Index while IJR tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IJH is the larger fund by assets ($126B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

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Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IJH would generate roughly $8.17/month, while IJR would produce $9.83/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IJH yield0.98%

IJR yield1.18%

Monthly diff on $10K$1.67

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IJH would cost approximately $50 in fees vs $60 for IJR (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IJH ER0.05%

IJR ER0.06%

Strategy & risk

IJH tracks S&P MidCap 400 Index with an index approach, while IJR tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Index with an index approach. Beta is 1.0 for IJH and 1.07 for IJR, making IJH the less volatile of the two by this measure.

IJH beta1.0

IJR beta1.07

Fund details

IJH is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $126B in assets. IJR is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $111B in assets.

IJH AUM$126B

IJR AUM$111B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for IJH and IJR?

IJH currently distributes 0.98% and IJR 1.18%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is IJH or IJR better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. IJR currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between IJH and IJR?

IJH (iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF) tracks S&P MidCap 400 Index with an index approach, while IJR (iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF) tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Index with an index approach. They are issued by iShares and iShares respectively.

Can I hold both IJH and IJR?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Is IJH or IJR safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — IJH scores 93, IJR scores 70, so IJH's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, IJH or IJR?

IJH has an expense ratio of 0.05% while IJR charges 0.06%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in IJH vs IJR generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in IJH would generate roughly $8.17 per month ($98.00 annually). The same in IJR would produce about $9.83 per month ($118.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IJH or IJR?

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IJH vs IJR — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Overview

IJH and IJR are iShares core index ETFs that together cover the broad U.S. equity market below the large-cap tier. IJH tracks the S&P MidCap 400 Index (mid-cap stocks around $10–$25 billion in market value), while IJR tracks the S&P SmallCap 600 Index (smaller stocks down to roughly $500 million). Both are passively managed, charge minimal fees, and have been running since 2000.

How they differ

The clearest difference is market-cap exposure: IJH owns mid-caps; IJR owns smaller companies. That size difference drives the second distinction — volatility and return sensitivity. IJR's beta of 1.07 means it typically swings harder than the broader market, whereas IJH's beta of 1.0 moves in line with it. Third, IJR yields slightly more (1.15% vs. 0.96%), reflecting smaller companies' tendency to distribute a larger share of earnings as dividends. Both charge nearly identical fees (0.05% and 0.06%, respectively), and both command large asset bases ($126B for IJH, $113B for IJR), so cost and liquidity are not differentiators.

Who each is best for

IJH: Fits investors seeking direct mid-cap exposure with lower volatility than small-cap alternatives, or those building a ladder across market capitalizations who need a stable core holding in the $10–$25 billion range.

IJR: Fits investors comfortable with higher price swings in exchange for exposure to smaller-cap upside potential and a modestly higher income yield, or those looking to tilt toward smaller companies as a tactical allocation.

Key risks to know

Market-cap segment concentration. IJH and IJR each own companies within a narrow band of market capitalization. Economic or style headwinds that disproportionately affect mid-caps or small-caps can create sustained relative underperformance versus the broader market or versus each other.

Cyclicality and duration mismatch. Small-cap stocks (IJR) are typically more sensitive to economic cycles and less defensive during downturns, while mid-caps (IJH) occupy middle ground. Investors with shorter time horizons or lower loss tolerance should account for the added volatility in IJR's beta.

Index methodology risk. Both funds track S&P indexes, which reconstitute quarterly and apply strict eligibility rules. Changes in the indexes can force inflows or outflows that create temporary tracking differences or tax consequences, especially during volatile periods.

Overlap with broader market funds. Both IJH and IJR's holdings may overlap significantly with large-cap holdings investors already own. Without a full holdings breakdown, verifying actual diversification benefit is necessary.

Bottom line

IJH offers mid-cap exposure with muted volatility and a lower yield; IJR provides smaller-company exposure with higher volatility and a modest income premium. If you want a stable mid-cap sleeve with beta near 1.0, IJH fits the bill; if you're willing to accept higher price swings for small-cap growth potential and an extra 19 basis points of yield, IJR may align better with your risk appetite.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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