ETF Comparison

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

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF and iShares Russell 2000 ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Updated October 14, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

IJRInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
IWMInvestors 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.

IJR has outpaced IWM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 15.89% total return against 10.58%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IJR has compounded at 10.03% a year, against 9.83% for IWM. 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 cumulative	1Y cumulative	3Y annualized	5Y annualized	10Y annualized	Since May 2000	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
IJR	13.60%	15.89%	15.83%	5.42%	10.03%	9.79%	20.0%	0.51	0.76	-28.0%
IWM	10.99%	10.58%	18.09%	5.03%	9.83%	8.37%	21.0%	0.58	0.85	-27.5%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 14, 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.
Metric	IJR	IWM
Full name	iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF	iShares Russell 2000 ETF
Issuer	iShares	iShares
Underlying index	S&P SmallCap 600 Index	Russell 2000 Index
Last Close	$135.41 as of October 14, 2026	$271.37 as of October 14, 2026
Distribution rate	1.50%	1.11%
Trailing 12-month yield	1.26%	1.01%
Distribution Safety Score™	79	92
Safety-Adjusted Yield	1.19%	1.02%
Expense ratio	0.06%	0.19%
AUM	$103B	$78.7B
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	1.07	1.27
Last dividend	$0.509	$0.75
Ex-dividend date	09/15/2026	09/15/2026

Bottom lineIJR and IWM are both for investors who want broad equity exposure — so strategy isn't the deciding factor here. Cost is: IJR charges 0.06% against 0.19% for IWM, and between two funds this similar that gap comes straight out of your return every year you hold.

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iShares

ETFs467

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

IJR (iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF) and IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

IJR offers the higher yield at 1.50% vs 1.11% for IWM. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

IJR is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.06% compared to 0.19%.

They have different reference exposures: IJR is linked to S&P SmallCap 600 Index while IWM is linked to Russell 2000 Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IJR is the larger fund by assets ($103B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

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Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IJR would generate roughly $37.50 cash per distribution, while IWM would produce $27.75 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IJR yield1.50%

IWM yield1.11%

Cash diff on $10K$9.75

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IJR would cost approximately $60 in fees vs $190 for IWM (simplified, not compounded). The $130.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IJR ER0.06%

IWM ER0.19%

Strategy & risk

IJR tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Index with a small caps approach, while IWM tracks Russell 2000 Index with a small caps approach. Beta is 1.07 for IJR and 1.27 for IWM, making IJR the less volatile of the two by this measure.

IJR beta1.07

IWM beta1.27

Fund details

IJR is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $103B in assets. IWM is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $78.7B in assets.

IJR AUM$103B

IWM AUM$78.7B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for IJR and IWM?

IJR currently distributes 1.50% and IWM 1.11%, 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 IJR or IWM 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 IJR and IWM?

IJR (iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF) tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Index with a small caps approach, while IWM (iShares Russell 2000 ETF) tracks Russell 2000 Index with a small caps approach. They are issued by iShares and iShares respectively.

Can I hold both IJR and IWM?

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 IJR or IWM safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — IWM scores 92, IJR scores 79, so IWM's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. IJR has also shown lower price volatility (beta 1.07 vs 1.27 for IWM). No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, IJR or IWM?

IJR has an expense ratio of 0.06% while IWM charges 0.19%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in IJR would generate roughly $37.50 cash per distribution ($150.00 annually). The same in IWM would produce about $27.75 cash per distribution ($111.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IJR or IWM?

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Dividend dates and history

IJR vs IWM — at a glance

Generated October 10, 2026.

Overview

IJR and IWM are both core small-cap equity ETFs launched on the same day by iShares, but they track different benchmark indexes and carry meaningfully different risk profiles. IJR tracks the S&P SmallCap 600, while IWM tracks the Russell 2000. The Russell 2000 includes more stocks (roughly 2,000 versus 600) and extends further into micro-cap territory, making it broader but more volatile.

How they differ

The most significant difference is index composition: the S&P SmallCap 600 is narrower and concentrates on larger small-caps, while the Russell 2000 reaches deeper into micro-cap stocks. IWM's beta of 1.27 versus IJR's 1.07 reflects this—the Russell 2000 swings more sharply in both directions. The expense ratio gap is modest but favors IJR: 0.06% versus 0.19%. IJR also commands a larger asset base at $103B versus IWM's $78.7B.

Who each is best for

IJR: Fits investors seeking concentrated exposure to established small-cap companies with lower price volatility and quarterly income, favoring a core holding in a small-cap allocation.

IWM: Fits investors comfortable with broader small-cap exposure including micro-cap names and higher beta, who view the Russell 2000 as a more comprehensive barometer of small-company equity returns.

Key risks to know

Index concentration and composition: The Russell 2000's inclusion of micro-cap stocks creates higher idiosyncratic risk than the S&P SmallCap 600's more selective approach; a downturn in micro-cap valuations would hit IWM harder.

Volatility and beta divergence: IWM's beta of 1.27 means it amplifies market moves by roughly 27% more than the broad market, while IJR at 1.07 tracks closer to the overall market—a meaningful swing during extended downturns.

Small-cap style factor risk: Both funds are vulnerable to value rotation; extended growth outperformance or a shift toward large-cap stability could pressure small-cap returns across both holdings.

Liquidity in constituent stocks: The Russell 2000's deeper reach into smaller, less-liquid companies may create wider spreads and execution challenges during market stress compared to IJR's more liquid SmallCap 600 holdings.

Bottom line

If you prioritize lower volatility and tighter index construction within small-caps, IJR's S&P SmallCap 600 exposure and leaner expense ratio stand out. If you want broader small-cap coverage including micro-cap names and accept higher beta, IWM's Russell 2000 tracking offers more comprehensive exposure. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.