IWM vs IJR Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
IWM and IJR both target small-cap blend exposure but take different paths to get there — IWM via the Russell 2000 Index, and IJR via the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. The practical differences come down to issuer, cost structure, and the specific index rules each fund follows, since both are pursuing a similar investment outcome.
IWM vs IJR is largely a question of which issuer and index methodology you trust more for small-cap blend exposure — the underlying investment case is similar, so cost, liquidity, and tracking precision tend to be the deciding factors.
IJR holds the edge across 4 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. IWM has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+17.21% vs +16.63% for IJR).
- want the most liquid way to trade or hold small-cap exposure
- prefer iShares (BlackRock)'s approach and fund lineup
- value by far the deepest options market of any small-cap ETF
- are comfortable with higher expense ratio than newer small-cap index funds
- want quality-screened small-cap exposure via the S&P 600
- prefer iShares (BlackRock)'s approach and fund lineup
- value s&P 600's profitability requirement screens out weaker companies
- are comfortable with smaller company count than the Russell 2000
| Metric | IWM | IJR |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 71.0 | 72.0 |
| Latest closei | $284.10 | $138.90 |
| 1M returni | -5.59% | -5.76% |
| 6M returni | +17.88% | +16.12% |
| 1Y returni | +17.21% | +16.63% |
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 | IJR |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $11.84K (+18.4%) started 2025-09-18 | $11.82K (+18.2%) started 2025-09-18 |
| 5Y ago | $14.93K (+49.3%) started 2021-09-20 | $15.31K (+53.1%) started 2021-09-20 |
| 10Y ago | $30.18K (+201.8%) started 2016-09-19 | $31.08K (+210.8%) started 2016-09-19 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | IWM | IJR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.19% | 0.06% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $80.46B | $109.25B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.90% | 1.14% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 16.73 | 17.38 |
| Betai | 1.16 | 1.07 |
| 52-week change | 17.21% | 16.63% |
| Metric | IWM | IJR |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +17.21% | +16.63% |
| 6M returni | +17.88% | +16.12% |
| 1M returni | -5.59% | -5.76% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.71 | 0.75 |
| Betai | 1.16 | 1.07 |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.90% | 1.14% |
| 5Y CAGR | +6.90% | +7.02% |
Over the past year, IWM and IJR have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.93), 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 | IJR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +17.21% | +16.63% |
| CAGRi | +17.23% | +16.65% | |
| Volatilityi | 18.60% | 16.31% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.71 | 0.75 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.03 | 1.13 | |
| Max drawdowni | 11.03% | 8.68% | |
| Current drawdowni | 6.64% | 7.34% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 2.37% | 2.02% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 3.33% | 2.86% | |
| Max daily dropi | 3.55% | 3.12% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 4.62% | 4.84% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +39.57% | +40.35% |
| CAGRi | +6.90% | +7.02% | |
| Volatilityi | 22.40% | 21.16% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.21 | 0.21 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.30 | 0.31 | |
| Max drawdowni | 31.91% | 28.02% | |
| Current drawdowni | 6.64% | 7.34% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 13.38% | 10.09% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 16.32% | 12.32% | |
| Max daily dropi | 6.42% | 7.01% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 12.38% | 13.59% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +163.20% | +163.81% |
| CAGRi | +10.17% | +10.19% | |
| Volatilityi | 23.00% | 22.83% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.34 | 0.34 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.48 | 0.49 | |
| Max drawdowni | 41.13% | 44.36% | |
| Current drawdowni | 6.64% | 7.34% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 9.89% | 9.00% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 13.34% | 11.95% | |
| Max daily dropi | 13.27% | 11.77% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 24.00% | 23.96% |
| Category | IWM | IJR |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | iShares Russell 2000 ETF | iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.19% | 0.06% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $80.46B | $109.25B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.90% | 1.14% |
- By far the deepest options market of any small-cap ETF
- Extremely high trading volume for tactical positioning
- Long-standing benchmark status
- S&P 600's profitability requirement screens out weaker companies
- Historically has outperformed the unscreened Russell 2000 over long periods
- Low expense ratio in the iShares Core lineup
- Higher expense ratio than newer small-cap index funds
- Russell 2000 includes many unprofitable, speculative companies
- More rate-sensitive and volatile than large-cap funds
- Smaller company count than the Russell 2000
- Still carries small-cap volatility and cyclicality
- Less name-brand recognition than IWM among traders
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