ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF and State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

IJHInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
MDYInvestors who want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

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 outpaced MDY over the trailing twelve months, posting a 18.58% total return against 18.23%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IJH has compounded at 10.82% a year, against 10.59% for MDY. 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	13.91%	18.58%	14.87%	8.13%	10.82%	9.83%	17.9%	0.53	0.77	-24.1%
MDY	13.68%	18.23%	14.55%	7.86%	10.59%	9.61%	17.9%	0.51	0.74	-24.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of September 4, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; windows of one year or longer 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	MDY
Full name	iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF	State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust
Issuer	iShares	State Street
Last Close	$75.85 as of September 4, 2026	$691.52 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution yield	1.00%	0.98%
Distribution Safety Score™	93	97
Safety-Adjusted Yield	0.93%	0.95%
Expense ratio	0.05%	0.23%
AUM	$124B	$26.1B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	S&P MidCap 400 Index	—
Objective	Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.	—
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	05/22/2000	05/04/1995
Beta	1.0	0.99
Last dividend	$0.189	$1.702
Ex-dividend date	06/15/2026	06/18/2026

Bottom lineChoose IJH if you want broad equity exposure. Choose MDY if you want simple, diversified core exposure in one low-cost fund.

Model this comparison:

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Income calculator

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

iShares

ETFs466

Total AUM$4642B

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.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IJH.

See all iShares ETFs

State Street

ETFs179

Total AUM$2124B

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

State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for its flagship SPDR suite of exchange-traded products that serve both institutional and retail investors across a broad range of asset classes. Their 88-fund lineup spans diverse strategies including sector exposure (Select Sector SPDR), income generation (Income and Select Sector SPDR Premium Income families), commodities (including the widely-held GLD gold ETF), bonds, ESG-focused investments, and thematic allocations, with popular tickers like DIA (Diamonds Trust), FEZ (Eurozone exposure), and JNK (high-yield bonds) among their most recognized funds. The issuer is characterized by its comprehensive coverage across multiple market segments and its emphasis on both traditional index-based products and specialized strategies like covered call income funds and factor-based investing.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on MDY.

See all State Street ETFs

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — free to start, no credit card.

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Quick verdict

IJH (iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF) and MDY (State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

IJH offers the higher yield at 1.00% vs 0.98% for MDY. 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 0.23%.

IJH is the larger fund by assets ($124B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Still deciding? Track IJH & MDY for free

Create a free Dividend Vision account to keep them on a watchlist, get notified when they declare dividends, and see how much income they would add to your portfolio.

Add to my watchlist See what a free account includes

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IJH would generate roughly $8.33/month, while MDY would produce $8.17/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IJH yield1.00%

MDY yield0.98%

Monthly diff on $10K$0.17

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IJH would cost approximately $50 in fees vs $230 for MDY (simplified, not compounded). The $180.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IJH ER0.05%

MDY ER0.23%

Strategy & risk

IJH tracks S&P MidCap 400 Index with an index approach, while MDY is an ETF built around mid cap blend exposure. Beta is 1.0 for IJH and 0.99 for MDY — effectively similar market sensitivity.

IJH beta1.0

MDY beta0.99

Fund details

IJH is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $124B in assets. MDY is managed by State Street (launched 05/04/1995) with $26.1B in assets.

IJH AUM$124B

MDY AUM$26.1B

Ready to act?

Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for IJH and MDY?

IJH currently distributes 1.00% and MDY 0.98%, based on fund data updated September 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 MDY better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. IJH 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 MDY?

IJH (iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF) tracks S&P MidCap 400 Index with an index approach, while MDY (State Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust) is an ETF built around mid cap blend exposure. They are issued by iShares and State Street respectively.

Can I hold both IJH and MDY?

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 MDY safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — MDY scores 97, IJH scores 93, so MDY'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 MDY?

IJH has an expense ratio of 0.05% while MDY charges 0.23%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in IJH would generate roughly $8.33 per month ($100.00 annually). The same in MDY would produce about $8.17 per month ($98.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IJH or MDY?

More comparisons to explore

People also compare IJH with

Popular comparisons

IJH vs MDY — at a glance

Generated August 29, 2026.

Overview

IJH and MDY are both ETFs tracking the S&P MidCap 400 Index, giving them nearly identical underlying exposure to 400 mid-cap U.S. stocks. Both distribute quarterly and carry betas near 1.0, making them functionally equivalent in terms of market sensitivity and income generation.

How they differ

The primary difference is expense ratio: IJH costs 0.05% versus MDY's 0.23%, a spread of 18 basis points that compounds over time. This fee advantage flows directly from IJH's substantially larger asset base ($124B versus $26.1B), which allows iShares to spread fixed costs across a much wider pool. Both funds offer nearly identical distribution rates (1.00% versus 0.98%) and quarterly payout frequency, so yield to the investor is functionally the same. MDY has a slightly longer track record, dating to May 1995 versus IJH's inception in May 2000, though both have decades of performance history. The funds' betas are nearly identical (IJH at 1.0, MDY at 0.99), confirming that market-tracking behavior is equivalent.

Who each is best for

IJH: Fits investors seeking the lowest-cost broad mid-cap index exposure and willing to benefit from the liquidity and cost efficiency that comes with a very large AUM pool. Index-focused allocators prioritizing fee drag reduction over time.

MDY: Fits investors who already hold State Street's broader ecosystem of SPDR products or prefer the issuer's custody and operational infrastructure. Those for whom issuer familiarity or trading venue preference slightly outweighs the higher annual cost.

Key risks to know

Index concentration within mid caps. Both funds track the same 400 mid-cap stocks, so performance will be driven by mid-cap sector rotation and valuation cycles. A prolonged period of large-cap outperformance or small-cap underperformance could pressure returns for both equally. Over a 20-year horizon, this compounds meaningfully.

Moderate systematic risk. Both funds carry betas around 1.0, meaning they will track broad equity market downturns without dampening. Investors seeking downside cushioning will not find it in either fund.

Bottom line

If cost minimization is central to your allocation strategy, IJH's $124B scale and 0.05% expense ratio delivers a clear fee advantage. Either way, past performance doesn't 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.

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.

Start Free Open in Comparator Browse Screener