IWM vs IJH ETF Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
IWM and IJH cover adjacent size segments with a crucial methodological difference. IWM selects roughly two thousand companies purely by size, so it includes many unprofitable businesses. IJH requires profitability for inclusion and holds larger mid-sized companies, which has historically produced a higher-quality roster and strong long-run returns for the segment.
Use this IWM vs IJH comparison to see that the profitability screen matters more than the size label. Much of the long-run underperformance attributed to small caps traces to the unprofitable tail that a size-only index includes. A screened mid cap index avoids that, which is a large part of why the two have diverged.
IJH holds the edge across 4 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. IWM has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+19.03% vs +14.30% for IJH).
- Want genuine small cap exposure with no size drift
- Value maximum liquidity in the benchmark for trading or options
- Believe small caps are positioned to outperform from current valuations
- Accept unprofitable holdings and higher volatility
- Want size exposure below large cap with a profitability screen
- Value higher average business quality in the roster
- Are filling a mid cap gap left by an S&P 500 core holding
- Accept that it is not true small cap exposure
| Metric | IWM | IJH |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 72.0 | 71.0 |
| Latest closei | $281.97 | $72.99 |
| 1M returni | -5.43% | -4.45% |
| 6M returni | +16.57% | +11.02% |
| 1Y returni | +19.03% | +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 | IWM | IJH |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $12.02K (+20.2%) started 2025-09-25 | $11.58K (+15.8%) started 2025-09-25 |
| 5Y ago | $14.12K (+41.2%) started 2021-09-27 | $15.56K (+55.6%) started 2021-09-27 |
| 10Y ago | $29.73K (+197.3%) started 2016-09-26 | $32.41K (+224.1%) started 2016-09-26 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | IWM | IJH |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.19% | 0.05% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $80.46B | $124.94B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.90% | 1.18% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 16.60 | 20.09 |
| Betai | 1.16 | 1.04 |
| 52-week change | 19.03% | 14.30% |
| Metric | IWM | IJH |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +19.03% | +14.30% |
| 6M returni | +16.57% | +11.02% |
| 1M returni | -5.43% | -4.45% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.79 | 0.66 |
| Betai | 1.16 | 1.04 |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.90% | 1.18% |
| 5Y CAGR | +5.79% | +7.64% |
Over the past year, IWM and IJH have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.92), 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 | IWM | IJH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +19.03% | +14.30% |
| CAGRi | +19.05% | +14.31% | |
| Volatilityi | 18.62% | 15.35% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.79 | 0.66 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.15 | 0.97 | |
| Max drawdowni | 11.03% | 8.83% | |
| Current drawdowni | 7.34% | 6.94% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 2.46% | 2.00% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 3.46% | 2.90% | |
| Max daily dropi | 3.55% | 2.83% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 4.62% | 4.57% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +32.46% | +44.45% |
| CAGRi | +5.79% | +7.64% | |
| Volatilityi | 22.39% | 19.63% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.16 | 0.25 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.23 | 0.35 | |
| Max drawdowni | 31.91% | 24.10% | |
| Current drawdowni | 7.34% | 6.94% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 13.40% | 6.99% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 16.32% | 9.08% | |
| Max daily dropi | 6.42% | 6.73% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 12.38% | 12.79% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +159.32% | +175.09% |
| CAGRi | +10.00% | +10.65% | |
| Volatilityi | 23.00% | 21.11% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.34 | 0.37 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.47 | 0.52 | |
| Max drawdowni | 41.13% | 42.18% | |
| Current drawdowni | 7.34% | 6.94% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 9.89% | 5.90% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 13.34% | 8.56% | |
| Max daily dropi | 13.27% | 14.43% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 24.00% | 22.31% |
| Category | IWM | IJH |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | iShares Russell 2000 ETF | iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.19% | 0.05% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $80.46B | $124.94B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.90% | 1.18% |
- The most widely used and liquid small cap benchmark, heavily used by traders
- Very broad exposure across roughly two thousand companies
- Genuine small cap exposure with no size creep toward mid caps
- Profitability requirement excludes loss-making companies, raising average quality
- Mid caps combine growth potential with more established businesses than small caps
- Historically strong long-run returns for the size segment
- Includes a substantial share of unprofitable companies, since selection is by size alone
- Higher volatility and deeper drawdowns than mid or large cap indexes
- Annual reconstitution is well telegraphed and can create predictable trading pressure
- Not true small cap exposure, so it misses the smallest companies entirely
- Still more volatile than large cap indexes
- Mid cap segment is frequently underweighted or overlooked in portfolios
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