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Dividend Vision

ETF Comparison

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

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

Data updated August 28, 2026

Best for

  • IJRInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
  • VBInvestors 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

IJR has outpaced VB over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.19% total return against 20.49%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VB has compounded at 11.01% a year, ahead of IJR at 10.52%. 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
IJR20.50%24.19%15.47%6.84%10.52%9.93%20.2%0.490.73-28.0%
VB15.77%20.49%16.79%7.34%11.01%9.92%18.9%0.590.85-25.4%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of August 28, 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricIJRVB
Full nameiShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETFVanguard Small Cap ETF
IssueriSharesVanguard
Underlying indexS&P SmallCap 600 IndexCRSP US Small Cap Index
Last Close$145.58 as of August 28, 2026$300.75 as of August 28, 2026
Distribution yield1.19%1.19%
Distribution Safety Score™ 7095
Safety-Adjusted Yield 0.83%1.13%
Expense ratio0.06%0.03%
AUM$111B$81.9B
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
Beta1.071.1
Last dividend$0.4330$0.8920
Ex-dividend date06/15/202606/26/2026

Bottom lineIJR and VB 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.

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

iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4691B

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 IJR.

See all iShares ETFs
Vanguard
ETFs116
Total AUM$4683B

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 VB.

See all Vanguard ETFs

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Quick verdict

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

VB is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.03% compared to 0.06%.

They track different benchmarks: IJR is linked to S&P SmallCap 600 Index while VB tracks CRSP US Small Cap Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IJR is the larger fund by assets ($111B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IJR would generate roughly $9.92/month, while VB would produce $9.92/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

IJR yield1.19%
VB yield1.19%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IJR would cost approximately $60 in fees vs $30 for VB (simplified, not compounded). The $30.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IJR ER0.06%
VB ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

IJR tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Index with an index approach, while VB tracks CRSP US Small Cap Index with an index approach. Beta is 1.07 for IJR and 1.1 for VB — effectively similar market sensitivity.

IJR beta1.07
VB beta1.1

Fund details

IJR is managed by iShares (launched 05/22/2000) with $111B in assets. VB is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2004) with $81.9B in assets.

IJR AUM$111B
VB AUM$81.9B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution yield for IJR and VB?

IJR currently distributes 1.19% and VB 1.19%, based on fund data updated August 2026. Distribution yield moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is IJR or VB 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 VB?

IJR (iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF) tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Index with an index approach, while VB (Vanguard Small Cap ETF) tracks CRSP US Small Cap Index with an index approach. They are issued by iShares and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both IJR and VB?

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 VB safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — VB scores 95, IJR scores 70, so VB'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, IJR or VB?

IJR has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VB charges 0.03%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in IJR would generate roughly $9.92 per month ($119.00 annually). The same in VB would produce about $9.92 per month ($119.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IJR or VB?

IJR has outpaced VB over the trailing twelve months, posting a 24.19% total return against 20.49%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VB has compounded at 11.01% a year, ahead of IJR at 10.52%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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IJR vs VB — at a glance

Generated August 15, 2026.

Figures quoted in this analysis are from its generation date and may lag the live snapshot table above, which always shows the latest data.

Overview

IJR and VB are both broad small-cap equity ETFs tracking slightly different universes of U.S. companies under $10 billion in market value. IJR tracks the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, while VB uses the CRSP US Small Cap Index, which is roughly twice as large and includes more names. Both deliver identical distribution rates and quarterly payouts, but differ in expense ratio, issuer, and underlying index composition—a distinction that matters for overlap and sector weightings.

How they differ

The core difference is index methodology: IJR holds 600 stocks by design, while VB's CRSP index encompasses around 1,400 names, giving VB broader exposure to the micro-cap end of small-cap. VB carries a slightly lower expense ratio at 0.05% versus IJR's 0.06%—a narrow gap that widens only on larger positions. Both distribute 1.15% annually in quarterly chunks, so yield is identical. VB is also slightly smaller by AUM ($82.5B vs. $113B); IJR launched in 2000 while VB arrived in 2004, which may explain some of the asset sizing difference.

Who each is best for

IJR: Fits investors seeking a tighter, more focused small-cap portfolio weighted toward established names within the small-cap tier, with the reassurance of a 23-year track record and the iShares ecosystem.

VB: Designed for investors who want broader exposure across the entire small-cap and micro-cap spectrum, including smaller, less-liquid names that IJR's narrower index excludes.

Key risks to know

  • Index overlap and performance divergence. Both funds track different slices of small-cap, so their sector and company overlap may vary. A tilt toward a particular small-cap cohort (e.g., growth vs. value, or highly liquid vs. thinly traded names) could cause meaningful performance gaps over time.
  • Small-cap volatility and liquidity. IJR's beta of 1.07 and VB's beta of 1.1 both confirm higher volatility than the broad market. Smaller companies are more sensitive to interest-rate and credit-cycle swings, and during liquidity crunches, the less-liquid names in VB's broader index may face wider bid-ask spreads.
  • Concentration within the index. While both funds hold dozens or hundreds of names, small-cap indices are often dominated by a handful of larger small-cap names. A sharp drawdown in that cohort affects both funds, though the distribution of holdings may differ.
  • Reinvestment and tax drag. Quarterly distributions mean reinvestment timing risk; if small-cap rallies sharply within weeks of a distribution, reinvested capital may buy into a dip.

Bottom line

Both ETFs offer lean, broad access to U.S. small caps with minimal fees and identical yields. IJR's narrower index and longer track record suit investors drawn to a more concentrated, established approach; VB's wider universe and marginally lower expense ratio appeal to those prioritizing deeper micro-cap representation. Past performance of each index does not guarantee 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.

How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

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