Should You Buy a Small Cap or Mid Cap ETF? We Take a Look at Two iShares ETFs

iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF has a significantly lower expense ratio than iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF offers lower volatility and a shallower maximum drawdown over the last five years iShares Morningstar Small-Cap Value ETF holds over 1,000 positions, providing much broader diversification than its mid-cap counterpart

The Motley Fool • Jun 11, 2026

StyleBox Update: The One Surprise Is Small Cap Growth And Value Starting To Roll

Smallcaps - both growth and value - have started to outperform. Given the move in the Russell, I thought more energy would be in the index, but the sector is less than 5% of the index.

Seeking Alpha • May 31, 2026

Should iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (IJJ) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Designed to provide broad exposure to the Mid Cap Value segment of the US equity market, the iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (IJJ) is a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on July 24, 2000.

Zacks Investment Research • May 19, 2026

2 Ways to Buy Undervalued American Companies: VBR vs. IJJ

Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF provides exposure to a broader basket of holdings at a significantly lower expense ratio than iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF. Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF outperformed iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF on a total return basis over the last year and five years.

The Motley Fool • Apr 29, 2026

SLYV vs. IJJ: The Value Investor's Choice Between Small-Cap Upside and Mid-Cap Stability

State Street SPDR S&P 600 Small Cap Value ETF focuses on smaller stocks while iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF targets the mid-cap market segment. iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF has historically exhibited lower volatility and a shallower maximum drawdown over the past five years.

The Motley Fool • Apr 29, 2026

IJJ: Hold At Best As Inexpensive Mid-Caps Unlikely To Outmatch The Market

iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF is a passively managed ETF offering exposure to inexpensive equities selected from the S&P 400. Heavy in financials, IJJ has a 1.2x larger earnings yield compared to IJH yet a much smaller forward EPS growth rate and issues on the quality front to boot. I rate IJJ a Hold, as its value characteristics, small exposure to growth, and a slight tilt toward low volatility may hinder it from keeping pace with IVV.

Seeking Alpha • Apr 10, 2026

VBR vs. IJJ: Are Small-Cap or Mid-Cap Stocks the Better Choice for Value Investors?

VBR carries a much lower expense ratio than IJJ and holds a broader basket of small-cap value stocks. IJJ tilts more heavily toward financials and mid-cap companies, with slightly less volatility over five years.

The Motley Fool • Feb 14, 2026

Better iShares ETF: IJJ's Mid-Cap Focus vs. ISCV's Small-Cap Stocks

IJJ holds fewer stocks and focuses on mid-caps, while ISCV targets a much broader small-cap universe. ISCV charges a lower fee and offers a slightly higher yield than IJJ.

The Motley Fool • Feb 13, 2026

IJJ vs. IWN: Can the Mid-Cap ETF Compete with a Small-Cap Fund?

IWN has outperformed IJJ over the last 12 months, but IJJ has had better long-term growth. IJJ has a slightly lower expense ratio and offers a marginally higher dividend yield than IWN.

The Motley Fool • Feb 8, 2026

Better Value ETF: iShares' IJJ vs. State Street's SLYV

SLYV and IJJ both focus on value stocks, but SLYV tilts small-cap while IJJ targets the mid-cap segment. IJJ carries a slightly higher expense ratio and lower dividend yield than SLYV, but has delivered stronger five-year growth with less drawdown.

The Motley Fool • Feb 8, 2026