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Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

IJH vs IJR: US Mid Caps, or US Small Caps?

A head-to-head of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap and iShares Core S&P Small-Cap covering size, cost, and overlap.

Updated October 16, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

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

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

IJH has lagged IJR over the trailing twelve months, posting a 13.90% total return against 16.87%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IJH has compounded at 10.71% a year, ahead of IJR at 10.06%. 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.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince May 2000Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IJH10.49%13.90%14.99%7.23%10.71%9.61%17.8%0.550.81-24.1%
IJR14.02%16.87%15.30%5.59%10.06%9.81%20.0%0.510.75-28.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 16, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since May 2000” measures every fund from May 26, 2000 — the start of shared available history — 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.
MetricIJHIJR
Full nameiShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETFiShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF
IssueriSharesiShares
Underlying indexS&P MidCap 400 IndexS&P SmallCap 600 Index
Last Close$72.35 as of October 16, 2026$135.91 as of October 16, 2026
Distribution rate1.25%1.50%
Trailing 12-month yield1.25%1.26%
Distribution Safety Score™ 9379
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.16%1.19%
Expense ratio0.05%0.06%
AUM$123B$103B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveProvide 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 classEquityEquity
Inception date05/22/200005/22/2000
Beta1.01.07
Last dividend$0.226$0.509
Ex-dividend date09/15/202609/15/2026

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.

IJH vs IJR: mid caps or small caps?

IJH is the S&P MidCap 400. IJR is the S&P SmallCap 600. Size band, not a tiny yield gap, is the decision.

IJHIJR
IndexS&P MidCap 400S&P SmallCap 600
Expense ratio0.05%0.06%
Fund size$123B$103B
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iShares
ETFs468
Total AUM$4.70T

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

iShares, operated by BlackRock, is one of the largest and most established ETF providers globally, known for offering broad, liquid index-tracking funds across nearly all asset classes and investment styles. The lineup encompasses a comprehensive range of strategies including core equity and bond exposure, dividend and income-focused funds, covered call strategies, ESG and thematic investments, factor-based approaches, alternatives, commodities, and municipal bonds, serving both individual and institutional investors. With numerous popular ticker symbols and extensive diversification across geographies, sectors, and investment objectives, iShares provides one of the market's widest selections of ETFs for building diversified portfolios.

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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 1.50% vs 1.25% 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 have different reference exposures: IJH is linked to S&P MidCap 400 Index while IJR is linked to S&P SmallCap 600 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IJH is the larger fund by assets ($123B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IJH would generate roughly $31.25 cash per distribution, while IJR would produce $37.50 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IJH yield1.25%
IJR yield1.50%
Cash diff on $10K$6.25

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 a small caps 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 $123B in assets. IJR is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $103B in assets.

IJH AUM$123B
IJR AUM$103B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between IJH and IJR?

IJH (iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF) tracks the S&P MidCap 400. IJR (iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF) tracks the S&P SmallCap 600. Cost is 0.05% versus 0.06%; size is $123B versus $103B. Distributions are 1.25% and 1.50% as of October 2026. Size band, not a tiny yield gap, is the decision.

What is the current distribution rate for IJH and IJR?

IJH currently distributes 1.25% and IJR 1.50%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate 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.

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 79, 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 $31.25 cash per distribution ($125.00 annually). The same in IJR would produce about $37.50 cash per distribution ($150.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IJH or IJR?

IJH has lagged IJR over the trailing twelve months, posting a 13.90% total return against 16.87%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IJH has compounded at 10.71% a year, ahead of IJR at 10.06%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

IJH vs IJR — at a glance

Generated October 17, 2026.

Overview

IJH and IJR are core equity index ETFs from iShares that track different tiers of the U.S. Both launched on the same day and carry minimal fees, but they differ in the size and volatility profile of their holdings and in yield.

How they differ

The fundamental difference is market capitalization exposure: IJH holds mid-cap companies (generally $10B–$50B in market cap), while IJR targets small-caps ($2B–$10B). That size difference drives their second-order distinction — IJR carries a higher beta of 1.07 versus IJH's 1.0, signaling greater price sensitivity to market swings. Expense ratios are nearly identical — 0.05% for IJH and 0.06% for IJR — making fees a negligible factor in the decision.

Who each is best for

IJH: Fits investors seeking broad U.S. equity exposure with moderate growth potential and lower volatility than smaller stocks. Mid-cap balance appeals to those rotating capital into steadier equities while retaining upside participation.

IJR: Fits investors comfortable with higher volatility in exchange for greater long-term capital appreciation potential. Small-cap tilt suits those with extended time horizons and tolerance for wider drawdowns during market corrections.

Key risks to know

  • Market-cap reversion risk: Small-caps and mid-caps experience materially different performance cycles. IJR may underperform during periods when large-cap stocks dominate; IJH may lag when investors chase smaller, faster-growing names. No guarantee these funds will deliver similar returns over any given horizon.
  • Beta and drawdown volatility: IJR's 1.07 beta implies roughly 7% more price swings than the broad market. Mid-cap's 1.0 beta suggests closer alignment to market moves. During equity selloffs, IJR typically declines more sharply than IJH.
  • Liquidity and corporate action exposure: Smaller-cap holdings are more vulnerable to individual company credit events, restructurings, and lower trading volumes. IJH's larger constituents typically have wider analyst coverage and tighter bid-ask spreads.

Bottom line

If you want steady market-aligned exposure with less volatility, IJH's mid-cap tilt offers simplicity and lower price swings. If you're willing to tolerate higher beta and are investing over a long horizon, IJR's small-cap exposure may deliver stronger total returns, though past performance does not predict future results.

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

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.