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ETF Comparison

VO vs IJH: Same Size Band, Different Mid-Cap Indexes

A head-to-head of Vanguard Mid-Cap and iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap covering index rules, cost, and concentration.

Data updated September 4, 2026

Best for

  • IJHInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
  • VOInvestors 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 outpaced VO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 18.58% total return against 16.07%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VO has compounded at 11.41% a year, ahead of IJH at 10.82%. 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.
SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Jan 2004Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IJH13.91%18.58%14.87%8.13%10.82%10.12%17.9%0.530.77-24.1%
VO13.25%16.07%16.47%7.33%11.41%10.33%14.7%0.731.05-19.0%

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 Jan 2004” measures every fund from January 30, 2004 — 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.
MetricIJHVO
Full nameiShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETFVanguard Mid-Cap ETF
IssueriSharesVanguard
Underlying indexS&P MidCap 400 IndexCRSP US Mid Cap Index
Last Close$75.85 as of September 4, 2026$82.28 as of September 4, 2026
Distribution rate1.00%1.24%
Distribution Safety Score™ 9397
Safety-Adjusted Yield 0.93%1.20%
Expense ratio0.05%0.03%
AUM$126B$106B
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 date05/22/200001/26/2004
Beta0.990.93
Last dividend$0.189$0.255
Ex-dividend date06/15/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineIJH and VO 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 VO: two mid-cap indexes

Same size band, two rulebooks. Index construction and cost are the live differences.

IJHVO
IndexS&P MidCap 400 IndexCRSP US Mid Cap Index
Expense ratio0.05%0.03%
Distribution yield1.00%1.24%
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Income calculator

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

iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4668B

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
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4654B

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

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VO.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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Quick verdict

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

VO offers the higher yield at 1.24% vs 1.00% for IJH. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.05%.

They have different reference exposures: IJH is linked to S&P MidCap 400 Index while VO is linked to CRSP US Mid Cap Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IJH is the larger fund by assets ($126B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IJH would generate roughly $8.33/month, while VO would produce $10.33/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IJH yield1.00%
VO yield1.24%
Monthly diff on $10K$2.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IJH would cost approximately $50 in fees vs $30 for VO (simplified, not compounded). The $20.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IJH ER0.05%
VO ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

IJH tracks S&P MidCap 400 Index with an index approach, while VO tracks CRSP US Mid Cap Index with an index approach. Beta is 0.99 for IJH and 0.93 for VO, making VO the less volatile of the two by this measure.

IJH beta0.99
VO beta0.93

Fund details

IJH is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $126B in assets. VO is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $106B in assets.

IJH AUM$126B
VO AUM$106B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between VO and IJH?

VO (Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF) tracks CRSP US Mid Cap Index. IJH (iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF) tracks S&P MidCap 400 Index. Cost is 0.03% versus 0.05%; distributions are 1.24% and 1.00% as of September 2026. Same size band, two mid-cap indexes. Construction and cost are the live differences.

What is the current distribution rate for IJH and VO?

IJH currently distributes 1.00% and VO 1.24%, based on fund data updated September 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 VO better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VO 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 VO?

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 VO safer?

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

IJH has an expense ratio of 0.05% while VO charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in IJH would generate roughly $8.33 per month ($100.00 annually). The same in VO would produce about $10.33 per month ($124.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IJH or VO?

IJH has outpaced VO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 18.58% total return against 16.07%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VO has compounded at 11.41% a year, ahead of IJH at 10.82%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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IJH vs VO — at a glance

Generated September 5, 2026.

Overview

IJH and VO are both broad mid-cap equity ETFs tracking different US mid-cap indexes. The funds target the same market segment but differ in index construction, fees, and dividend yield — making them close competitors for core mid-cap exposure.

How they differ

The first difference is index methodology. This means VO likely holds more positions and may capture a slightly different slice of the mid-cap universe. VO's distribution rate is also higher at 1.24% compared to IJH's 1.00%, suggesting either a higher current yield in its holdings or different dividend capture timing.

Third, the funds differ in scale and age. IJH is larger with $126B in assets and has been running since 05/22/2000, while VO holds $106B and launched 01/26/2004. VO's beta of 0.93 is slightly lower than IJH's 0.99, indicating marginally lower price volatility relative to the broader market, though the difference is minimal.

Who each is best for

IJH: Fits investors seeking the most tightly defined mid-cap exposure through a fixed 400-company index, paired with the longest track record and the confidence of iShares' scale.

VO: Designed for cost-conscious investors who value the lowest possible expense ratio and want exposure to a broader mid-cap universe that may capture a wider range of growth and value opportunities within the segment.

Key risks to know

  • Index composition overlap risk. While both track mid-cap stocks, their underlying indexes weight and select companies differently. Holdings likely overlap substantially, but divergent index methodologies could lead to meaningful performance gaps during market rotations that favor value over growth or vice versa.
  • Mid-cap volatility. Mid-cap stocks are more volatile than large-cap but less volatile than small-cap. Both funds carry a beta near 1.0, meaning they will tend to amplify broad market downturns and rallies; neither offers downside cushioning relative to the overall market.
  • Dividend yield dependency. Both funds distribute at modest rates (1.00%–1.24%), so they rely heavily on price appreciation for total return. A sustained decline in mid-cap earnings or valuations would erode NAV and leave limited income cushion.

Bottom line

VO edges out on total cost of ownership with a lower expense ratio and higher current yield; IJH offers a longer operating history and the specificity of the S&P 400 methodology. If minimizing fees and capturing a broader index universe matter most, VO's advantage is material over a long holding period. If you prefer the tighter index structure and longest historical track record, IJH delivers comparable exposure at a negligible cost difference. 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.

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