iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR): Complete Beginner's Guide
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) is a us small-cap ETF from BlackRock with an expense ratio of 0.06% and $80.0B in assets under management. Our Beginner Suitability Score: 9/10 (Great for Beginners). 5-year annualized return: 9.50%.
Last updated: April 2026
BlackRock • US Small-Cap
Expense Ratio
0.06%
AUM
$80.0B
Dividend Yield
1.50%
Inception
2000
Beginner Score
9/10
What is iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF?
IJR tracks the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, which screens for profitability before including companies, making it a higher-quality small-cap option. Unlike broader small-cap indexes, the S&P 600 requires positive earnings, filtering out unprofitable speculative companies. This quality screen has historically helped IJR deliver better risk-adjusted returns than many competing small-cap funds.
IJR is managed by BlackRock and has been available since 2000. With $80.0B in assets under management, it's a well-established fund with strong institutional backing. The fund charges an expense ratio of 0.06%, which means for every $10,000 you invest, you pay approximately $6 per year in management fees.
IJR at a Glance — Key Metrics
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% |
| Total Holdings | 600 |
| P/E Ratio | 18.5 |
| Beta | 1.12 |
| Dividend Yield | 1.50% |
| AUM | $80.0B |
| Inception Year | 2000 |
| Issuer | BlackRock |
Top 10 Holdings in IJR
IJR holds 600 different securities. Here are the largest positions that make up the core of this fund:
| # | Company | Ticker | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPS Commerce | SPSC | 0.70% |
| 2 | Mueller Water Products | MWA | 0.60% |
| 3 | Applied Industrial Technologies | AIT | 0.60% |
| 4 | Ensign Group | ENSG | 0.60% |
| 5 | Meritage Homes | MTH | 0.50% |
| 6 | UFP Technologies | UFPT | 0.50% |
| 7 | Omnicell | OMCL | 0.50% |
| 8 | Kforce | KFRC | 0.50% |
| 9 | Helios Technologies | HLIO | 0.40% |
| 10 | Visteon Corporation | VC | 0.40% |
IJR's top holding is SPS Commerce (SPSC) at 0.70%, followed by Mueller Water Products (MWA) at 0.60% and Applied Industrial Technologies (AIT) at 0.60%. The top 10 holdings account for 5.30% of the fund's 600 total positions.
View data table
| Rank | Company | Ticker | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SPS Commerce | SPSC | 0.70% |
| 2 | Mueller Water Products | MWA | 0.60% |
| 3 | Applied Industrial Technologies | AIT | 0.60% |
| 4 | Ensign Group | ENSG | 0.60% |
| 5 | Meritage Homes | MTH | 0.50% |
| 6 | UFP Technologies | UFPT | 0.50% |
| 7 | Omnicell | OMCL | 0.50% |
| 8 | Kforce | KFRC | 0.50% |
| 9 | Helios Technologies | HLIO | 0.40% |
| 10 | Visteon Corporation | VC | 0.40% |
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IJR Performance History
Here's how IJR has performed over different time periods. Remember that past performance doesn't guarantee future results, but it gives you a sense of the fund's track record:
YTD
2.20%
1 Year
11.00%
3 Year
6.00%
5 Year
9.50%
10 Year
9.00%
IJR has returned 9.50% annualized over 5 years and 9.00% over 10 years. YTD return is 2.20%.
View data table
| Period | Return |
|---|---|
| YTD | 2.20% |
| 1 Year | 11.00% |
| 3 Year | 6.00% |
| 5 Year | 9.50% |
| 10 Year | 9.00% |
Beginner Suitability Score: 9/10
Our proprietary Beginner Suitability Score evaluates ETFs based on five factors that matter most to new investors: fees, volatility, diversification, dividend history, and track record length.
IJR scores 9/10 because it has very low fees, can be more volatile than the broader market, offers broad diversification across 600 holdings, and has been available since 2000, giving it a proven track record.
How to Buy IJR — Step by Step
- Open a brokerage account — We recommend Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Vanguard for ETF investing. All offer $0 commissions on ETF trades.
- Fund your account — Transfer money from your bank. You can start with as little as $1 if your broker offers fractional shares.
- Search for "IJR" — Use the search bar in your brokerage platform to find iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF.
- Place your order — Choose "Market Order" for simplicity or "Limit Order" if you want to set a specific price. Enter how many shares (or dollar amount) you want to buy.
- Set up automatic investing — Most brokers let you schedule recurring purchases (e.g., $100/month on the 1st). This is dollar cost averaging in action.
IJR Sector Allocation
Here's how IJR distributes its investments across different sectors of the economy:
IJR's largest sector allocation is Industrials at 20.0%, followed by Financials at 18.0% and Consumer Discretionary at 14.0%.
View data table
| Sector | Weight |
|---|---|
| Industrials | 20.0% |
| Financials | 18.0% |
| Consumer Discretionary | 14.0% |
| Technology | 13.0% |
| Healthcare | 10.0% |
| Real Estate | 7.0% |
| Materials | 6.0% |
| Energy | 5.0% |
| Consumer Staples | 4.0% |
| Utilities | 3.0% |
Dollar Cost Averaging Into IJR
Here's what consistent monthly investing could look like over time, assuming an average annual return of 8% (approximate historical stock market average):
| Monthly | 10 Years | 20 Years | 30 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100/mo | $18,417 | $59,295 | $150,030 |
| $250/mo | $46,041 | $148,237 | $375,074 |
| $500/mo | $92,083 | $296,474 | $750,148 |
*Projections assume 8% average annual return with monthly compounding. Actual returns will vary. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Fee impact: With IJR's expense ratio of 0.06%, a $10,000 investment would lose approximately $515 to fees over 20 years compared to a zero-fee investment. This is a reasonable fee level for the value provided.
IJR's expense ratio of 0.06% costs $516 on a $10,000 investment over 20 years (assuming 8% annual return). Without fees, the investment would grow to $46,610 instead of $46,094.
View data table
| Year | Without Fees | With Fees | Fee Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | $10,000 | $10,000 | $0 |
| 5 | $14,693 | $14,653 | $40 |
| 10 | $21,589 | $21,470 | $119 |
| 15 | $31,722 | $31,458 | $264 |
| 20 | $46,610 | $46,094 | $516 |
Pros and Cons of IJR
Pros
- ✓S&P 600 profitability screen filters out unprofitable speculative companies
- ✓Large AUM and high trading volume provide excellent liquidity
- ✓Quality tilt has historically led to better risk-adjusted returns than broader small-cap indexes
- ✓Well-established fund with over two decades of track record
Cons
- ✗Profitability requirement excludes some high-potential early-stage growth companies
- ✗Still significantly more volatile than large-cap and mid-cap alternatives
- ✗Slightly higher expense ratio compared to Vanguard small-cap offerings
IJR vs Similar ETFs
See how IJR stacks up against similar funds:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IJR a good ETF for beginners?▾
IJR has a Beginner Suitability Score of 9/10 on our scale. This makes it a strong choice for new investors due to its low fees and broad diversification.
What is the expense ratio of IJR?▾
IJR has an expense ratio of 0.06%. This means for every $10,000 you invest, you pay approximately $6 per year in fees. This is considered very low and cost-efficient.
How much money do I need to invest in IJR?▾
You can invest in IJR with as little as $1 through brokers that offer fractional shares (like Fidelity, Schwab, or Robinhood). There is no minimum investment required beyond the share price itself, which changes daily. Dollar cost averaging — investing a fixed amount regularly — is a popular strategy.
Does IJR pay dividends?▾
Yes, IJR pays dividends with a current yield of approximately 1.50%. Dividends are typically paid quarterly and can be reinvested automatically through most brokers.
What are the top holdings in IJR?▾
The top holdings in IJR include SPS Commerce (0.70%), Mueller Water Products (0.60%), Applied Industrial Technologies (0.60%), and more. The fund holds 600 total positions, providing broad diversification across many companies.
What sectors does IJR invest in?▾
IJR's largest sector allocations are Industrials (20.00%), Financials (18.00%), Consumer Discretionary (14.00%). This sector distribution shows a focus on industrials stocks.
How much do IJR's fees cost over time?▾
With an expense ratio of 0.06%, a $10,000 investment in IJR would lose approximately $515 to fees over 20 years (assuming 8% annual returns). This is a reasonable fee level.