IJR vs IJH ETF Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
IJR and IJH are siblings from the same index family, sharing a profitability requirement and differing only in size segment. IJR holds small caps with more return potential and more volatility; IJH holds mid caps that are more established and steadier. Because the methodology is consistent, the choice is genuinely about size exposure rather than about index quality.
Use this IJR vs IJH comparison to place your size exposure precisely. Both apply the same quality screen, so you are choosing how far down the size spectrum to go. Smaller means more volatility, more credit sensitivity, and more potential if the segment leads; mid cap means a steadier ride with less of both.
IJH holds the edge across 4 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. IJR has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+19.41% vs +14.30% for IJH).
- Want screened small cap exposure rather than a size-only index
- Have a long horizon and tolerance for deeper drawdowns
- Believe small caps are attractively valued relative to large caps
- Accept greater recession and credit sensitivity
- Want size exposure with less volatility than small caps
- Value the same profitability screen on more established businesses
- Are filling a mid cap gap alongside a large cap core
- Accept less upside if small caps lead a rally
| Metric | IJR | IJH |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 75.0 | 71.0 |
| Latest closei | $138.29 | $72.99 |
| 1M returni | -5.44% | -4.45% |
| 6M returni | +14.34% | +11.02% |
| 1Y returni | +19.41% | +14.30% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | IJR | IJH |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $12.1K (+21.0%) started 2025-09-25 | $11.58K (+15.8%) started 2025-09-25 |
| 5Y ago | $14.46K (+44.6%) started 2021-09-27 | $15.56K (+55.6%) started 2021-09-27 |
| 10Y ago | $30.71K (+207.1%) started 2016-09-26 | $32.41K (+224.1%) started 2016-09-26 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | IJR | IJH |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $109.25B | $124.94B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.14% | 1.18% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 17.31 | 20.09 |
| Betai | 1.06 | 1.04 |
| 52-week change | 19.41% | 14.30% |
| Metric | IJR | IJH |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +19.41% | +14.30% |
| 6M returni | +14.34% | +11.02% |
| 1M returni | -5.44% | -4.45% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.90 | 0.66 |
| Betai | 1.06 | 1.04 |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.14% | 1.18% |
| 5Y CAGR | +5.91% | +7.64% |
Over the past year, IJR and IJH have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.94), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | IJR | IJH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +19.41% | +14.30% |
| CAGRi | +19.42% | +14.31% | |
| Volatilityi | 16.27% | 15.35% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.90 | 0.66 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.35 | 0.97 | |
| Max drawdowni | 8.68% | 8.83% | |
| Current drawdowni | 7.74% | 6.94% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 2.09% | 2.00% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 3.03% | 2.90% | |
| Max daily dropi | 3.12% | 2.83% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 4.84% | 4.57% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +33.18% | +44.45% |
| CAGRi | +5.91% | +7.64% | |
| Volatilityi | 21.12% | 19.63% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.17 | 0.25 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.24 | 0.35 | |
| Max drawdowni | 28.02% | 24.10% | |
| Current drawdowni | 7.74% | 6.94% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 10.12% | 6.99% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 12.33% | 9.08% | |
| Max daily dropi | 7.01% | 6.73% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 13.59% | 12.79% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +160.68% | +175.09% |
| CAGRi | +10.06% | +10.65% | |
| Volatilityi | 22.82% | 21.11% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.34 | 0.37 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.48 | 0.52 | |
| Max drawdowni | 44.36% | 42.18% | |
| Current drawdowni | 7.74% | 6.94% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 9.01% | 5.90% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 11.95% | 8.56% | |
| Max daily dropi | 11.77% | 14.43% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 23.96% | 22.31% |
| Category | IJR | IJH |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF | iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $109.25B | $124.94B |
| Dividend yieldi | 1.14% | 1.18% |
- Profitability requirement makes it a higher-quality small cap index than size-only alternatives
- Genuine small cap exposure with more return potential from a smaller base
- Very low cost with strong liquidity
- Same profitability screen applied to more established, larger businesses
- Less volatile than small caps while retaining meaningful growth exposure
- Historically attractive long-run returns for the segment
- Small caps are more volatile and more sensitive to credit conditions and recessions
- More domestically focused holdings, so less international revenue diversification
- Underperforms notably during periods when large caps dominate
- Less size-driven return potential than small caps if that segment leads
- Still noticeably more volatile than large cap indexes
- Often overlooked, so it may be missing from portfolios without anyone noticing
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AI score, forward P/E, analyst target upside, operating margin, and revenue growth are scored head-to-head, with a running tally of which ticker leads on how many metrics.
Volatility, Sharpe and Sortino ratios, maximum, current, and average drawdown, Ulcer Index, and worst single-day and single-week drops across every timeframe.
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