IJR vs VUG
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF vs Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares
Last updated: 2026-04-10
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) is an exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to small-cap U.S. equities with higher growth potential and volatility. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.06%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.22%. Launched in 2000, the fund has a 26-year track record.
Vanguard Growth Index Fund ETF Shares (VUG) is an exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to large-cap U.S. growth stocks with above-average earnings potential. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.43%. Launched in 2004, the fund has a 22-year track record.
Quick Verdict
VUG has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.03% vs 0.06%), saving about $60 per $10,000 over 10 years. Over the past year, IJR has significantly outperformed with a 38.8% return vs 30.1%. Income investors may prefer IJR for its higher yield (1.2% vs 0.4%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
0 of top 9 holdings overlap (0% overlap in top holdings)
IJR Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| BLK CSH FND TREASURY SL AGENCYXTSLA | 1.29% |
| Viavi Solutions Inc.VIAV | 0.60% |
| FormFactor, Inc.FORM | 0.57% |
| Eastman Chemical CompanyEMN | 0.53% |
| Primoris Services CorporationPRIM | 0.53% |
| Element Solutions IncESI | 0.53% |
| Argan, Inc.AGX | 0.51% |
| Semtech CorporationSMTC | 0.50% |
| ESCO Technologies Inc.ESE | 0.50% |
| Match Group, Inc.MTCH | 0.48% |
VUG Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 12.82% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 12.23% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 9.15% |
| Alphabet Inc.GOOG | 4.49% |
| Meta Platforms, Inc.META | 4.44% |
| Amazon.com, Inc.AMZN | 4.41% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 3.95% |
| Tesla, Inc.TSLA | 3.58% |
| Eli Lilly and CompanyLLY | 2.82% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose VUG if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose IJR if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose IJR if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.