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ETF Comparison

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

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

Data updated July 15, 2026

ETFs481
Total AUM$4450B

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.

ETFs115
Total AUM$4484B

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

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VO.

Side-by-side snapshot

IJHVO
Full nameiShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETFVanguard Mid-Cap ETF
IssueriSharesVanguard
Last Close$75.57 as of July 15, 2026$80.84 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield1.00%1.26%
Distribution Safety Score 9596
Expense ratio0.05%0.04%
AUM$118B$105B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
Underlying indexS&P MidCap 400 IndexCRSP US Mid Cap Index
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
Beta1.00.95
Last dividend$0.1890$0.2550
Ex-dividend date06/15/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineIJH and VO are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar stock exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: VO is cheaper at 0.04% vs 0.05%.

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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 20.30% total return against 15.78%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VO has compounded at 11.48% a year, ahead of IJH at 11.05%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

SymbolYTD1Y3Y5Y10YSince Jan 2004Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IJH13.49%20.30%13.84%8.78%11.05%10.17%17.9%0.480.69-24.1%
VO11.27%15.78%14.64%8.06%11.48%10.32%14.8%0.630.90-19.0%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows 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.

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 1.26% 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 0.04% compared to 0.05%.

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

IJH is the larger fund by assets ($118B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IJH would generate roughly $8.33/month, while VO would produce $10.50/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IJH yield1.00%
VO yield1.26%
Monthly diff on $10K$2.17

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IJH would cost approximately $50 in fees vs $40 for VO (simplified, not compounded). The $10.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IJH ER0.05%
VO ER0.04%

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 1.0 for IJH and 0.95 for VO, indicating VO is less volatile relative to the market.

IJH beta1.0
VO beta0.95

Fund details

IJH is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $118B in assets. VO is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $105B in assets.

IJH AUM$118B
VO AUM$105B

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Frequently asked questions

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.

What is the difference between IJH and VO?

IJH (iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF) tracks S&P MidCap 400 Index with an index approach, while VO (Vanguard Mid-Cap ETF) tracks CRSP US Mid Cap Index with an index approach. They are issued by iShares and Vanguard respectively.

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.

Which has lower fees, IJH or VO?

IJH has an expense ratio of 0.05% while VO charges 0.04%. 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 $10.50 per month ($126.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IJH or VO?

IJH has outpaced VO over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.30% total return against 15.78%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VO has compounded at 11.48% a year, ahead of IJH at 11.05%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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