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 5 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. IJR has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+21.65% vs +14.52% for IWM).
- 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 | 27.0 | 27.2 |
| Latest closei | $279.14 | $141.48 |
| 1M returni | -0.85% | +2.14% |
| 3M returni | -5.52% | -3.97% |
| 6M returni | +0.96% | +4.59% |
| 1Y returni | +14.52% | +21.65% |
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 | $11.61K (+16.1%) started 2025-11-03 | $12.3K (+23.0%) started 2025-11-03 |
| 5Y ago | $13.26K (+32.6%) started 2021-11-03 | $14.07K (+40.7%) started 2021-11-03 |
| 10Y ago | $31.44K (+214.4%) started 2016-11-03 | $33.35K (+233.5%) started 2016-11-03 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | IWM | IJR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.19% | 0.06% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $78.04B | $102.56B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.98% | 1.26% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 16.42 | 17.86 |
| Betai | 1.15 | 1.06 |
| 52-week change | 14.52% | 21.65% |
| Metric | IWM | IJR |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +14.52% | +21.65% |
| 6M returni | +0.96% | +4.59% |
| 3M returni | -5.52% | -3.97% |
| 1M returni | -0.85% | +2.14% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.61 | 1.03 |
| Betai | 1.15 | 1.06 |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.98% | 1.26% |
| 5Y CAGR | +4.47% | +5.33% |
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 | +14.89% | +21.41% |
| CAGRi | +14.94% | +21.49% | |
| Volatilityi | 18.16% | 15.83% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.61 | 1.03 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.89 | 1.58 | |
| Max drawdowni | 11.13% | 9.67% | |
| Current drawdowni | 8.27% | 5.62% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 3.13% | 2.69% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 4.34% | 3.87% | |
| Max daily dropi | 3.55% | 2.25% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 4.62% | 4.54% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +24.43% | +29.62% |
| CAGRi | +4.47% | +5.33% | |
| Volatilityi | 22.33% | 21.05% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.11 | 0.14 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.15 | 0.20 | |
| Max drawdowni | 31.91% | 28.02% | |
| Current drawdowni | 8.27% | 5.62% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 13.57% | 10.28% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 16.38% | 12.39% | |
| Max daily dropi | 6.42% | 7.01% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 12.38% | 13.59% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +175.09% | +184.04% |
| CAGRi | +10.65% | +11.01% | |
| Volatilityi | 23.01% | 22.83% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.36 | 0.38 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.51 | 0.53 | |
| Max drawdowni | 41.13% | 44.36% | |
| Current drawdowni | 8.27% | 5.62% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 9.95% | 9.06% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 13.37% | 11.98% | |
| 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 | $78.04B | $102.56B |
| Dividend yieldi | 0.98% | 1.26% |
- 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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