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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 16, 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 16.87% total return against 11.48%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IJR has compounded at 10.06% a year, against 9.79% 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.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince May 2000Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IJR14.02%16.87%15.30%5.59%10.06%9.81%20.0%0.510.75-28.0%
IWM10.61%11.48%17.34%5.02%9.79%8.36%21.0%0.560.83-27.5%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 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.
MetricIJRIWM
Full nameiShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETFiShares Russell 2000 ETF
IssueriSharesiShares
Underlying indexS&P SmallCap 600 IndexRussell 2000 Index
Last Close$135.91 as of October 16, 2026$270.44 as of October 16, 2026
Distribution rate1.50%1.11%
Trailing 12-month yield1.26%1.01%
Distribution Safety Score™ 7992
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.19%1.02%
Expense ratio0.06%0.19%
AUM$103B$78.7B
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
Beta1.071.27
Last dividend$0.509$0.75
Ex-dividend date09/15/202609/15/2026

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
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

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.

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?

IJR has outpaced IWM over the trailing twelve months, posting a 16.87% total return against 11.48%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IJR has compounded at 10.06% a year, against 9.79% for IWM. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

IJR vs IWM — at a glance

Generated October 17, 2026.

Overview

IJR and IWM are both broad small-cap stock ETFs launched on the same day, but they track different indexes. IJR follows the S&P SmallCap 600, which focuses on companies in the 600–2,500 market-cap range, while IWM tracks the Russell 2000, a broader measure of roughly 2,000 small-cap stocks. The key distinction is the index methodology: S&P uses market-cap weighting with a capped constituent weight, whereas Russell 2000 uses pure market-cap weighting and reconstitutes annually, which can drive different holdings and performance.

How they differ

IJR's underlying S&P SmallCap 600 excludes the smallest stocks in IWM's Russell 2000, meaning IJR's portfolio skews toward the larger end of small-cap. IWM's beta of 1.27 versus IJR's 1.07 reflects this: Russell 2000 stocks are more volatile. On cost, IJR is cheaper at 0.06% compared to IWM's 0.19%—a 0.13% difference that compounds over decades. IJR yields slightly more at 1.50% versus 1.11%, though both pay dividends quarterly. IJR also holds a larger asset base at $103B versus $78.7B.

Who each is best for

IJR: Fits investors seeking lower-cost exposure to the larger small-cap segment, with a modest yield and reduced volatility relative to the broader small-cap universe. This can trigger predictable trading flows and temporary liquidity imbalances as investors adjust holdings around the reconstitution date, potentially affecting execution quality.

  • Beta and drawdown magnitude. IWM's 1.27 beta indicates roughly 27% greater price swing magnitude than the broader market during market stress; IJR's 1.07 beta is lower but still amplified relative to the S&P 500, meaning both funds will decline sharply in recession or equity downturns.
  • Concentration and sector overlap. Both funds' exposures may overlap significantly (holdings data not provided here), and small-cap indexes often concentrate in specific sectors. A downturn in financials or industrials, common small-cap heavyweights, could pressure both simultaneously.
  • Liquidity in the smallest constituents. IWM's inclusion of the 2,000th-largest stock introduces exposure to less-liquid names; during market stress or forced selling, bid-ask spreads on those holdings can widen, potentially increasing realized trading costs for the fund.

Bottom line

If you want the lower fee and slightly higher income from the better-capitalized small-cap segment, IJR's $103B asset base and 0.06% ratio are attractive. If you prefer the Russell 2000's broader definition and accept its 1.27 volatility and 0.19% fee, IWM offers exposure further down the market-cap scale. Both have tracked their indexes faithfully over decades; 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.

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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.