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IJR

iShares Core S&P Small Cap ETF (IJR)

Rating:65Neutral
Price Target:$148.00▲(4.61% Upside)

IJR, the iShares Core S&P Small Cap ETF, has a solid overall rating driven by several strong holdings like Paycom and Jackson Financial, which show robust revenue growth, profitability, and supportive earnings calls that point to healthy business momentum and reasonable valuations. The fund is held back somewhat by weaker names such as ViaSat, where profitability challenges and high leverage create risk, and by holdings with bearish or overbought technical signals, adding volatility. The main risk factor is its focus on small-cap stocks, which tend to be more volatile and can be more sensitive to leverage, cash flow issues, and valuation concerns across multiple holdings.

Positive Factors
Strong Year-to-Date PerformanceThe ETF has delivered strong gains so far this year, showing solid momentum in its small-cap holdings.
Strong-Performing Top HoldingsMany of the largest positions, including companies in technology, health care, and energy, have shown strong performance, helping lift the fund’s overall results.
Low Expense RatioThe fund charges very low fees, which helps investors keep more of the returns generated by the portfolio.
Negative Factors
Recent Short-Term WeaknessThe ETF has shown weak performance over the last three months, which may signal near-term volatility in small-cap stocks.
Heavy U.S. ConcentrationAlmost all of the fund’s holdings are in U.S. companies, offering little geographic diversification if the U.S. market struggles.
Small-Cap Risk ExposureBecause the ETF focuses on smaller companies, it can be more sensitive to economic downturns and market swings than large-cap funds.

IJR vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

AUM
105.63B
Region
North America
Expense Ratio
0.06%
Beta
0.92
Issuer
iShares
Inception Date
May 22, 2000
Dividend Yield
1.21%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
S&P Small Cap 600

IJR Summary

IJR is the iShares Core S&P Small Cap ETF, which follows the S&P SmallCap 600 index. It invests in many smaller U.S. companies across different industries like financials, technology, and health care. These are businesses that are past the startup stage but still have room to grow. Well-known holdings include Match Group and Paycom. Someone might invest in IJR to diversify beyond large, famous companies and to tap into the growth potential of smaller firms. A key risk is that small-cap stocks can be more volatile, so the ETF’s value can move up and down more sharply with the market.

How much will it cost me?

This ETF has an expense ratio of 0.06%, which means you’ll pay about $0.60 per year for every $1,000 invested. That’s lower than the average ETF because it’s a passively managed fund that simply tracks the S&P SmallCap 600 index instead of paying managers to pick individual stocks.

What would affect this ETF?

This U.S. small-cap ETF could benefit if the American economy grows steadily, interest rates eventually ease, and sectors like technology, industrials, and financials continue to innovate and expand, supporting its broad mix of smaller companies. On the other hand, higher-for-longer interest rates, an economic slowdown that hits small businesses harder, or tighter regulations on areas like finance, health care, or energy could weigh on many of its holdings and increase volatility for investors.

IJR Top 10 Holdings

IJR is leaning on a mix of rising small-cap growth stories, with Glaukos and Paycom acting as key engines thanks to strong sales and upbeat earnings momentum. ViaSat and SM Energy add more punch, both showing solid recent gains, though their higher leverage keeps them a bit volatile. On the flip side, Element Solutions has been lagging, putting a mild drag on returns, while Ryman and Life Time Group look steadier but not spectacular. Overall, the fund is broadly diversified across U.S. sectors, with no single industry or stock dominating the stage.

IJR top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
GKOSGKOSGlaukos0.80%$843.15M$14.07B170.93%61Neutral
VSATVSATViaSat0.60%$638.33M$10.61B86.11%56Neutral
PAYCPAYCPaycom0.58%$612.41M$11.70B42.20%76Outperform
MTCHMTCHMatch Group0.54%$571.90M$9.51B30.09%66Neutral
SMSMSM Energy0.55%$577.85M$9.60B79.22%72Outperform
PTGXPTGXProtagonist Therapeutics0.53%$563.92M$9.37B77.27%68Neutral
RHPRHPRyman0.52%$546.84M$9.09B55.22%66Neutral
LTHLTHLife Time Group Holdings0.49%$515.40M$10.13B77.19%71Outperform
JXNJXNJackson Financial Incorporation0.48%$505.85M$9.14B36.53%73Outperform
TGTXTGTXTG Therapeutics0.49%$522.14M$9.36B72.37%65Neutral

IJR Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentPositive
Last Price141.48

Price Trends

50DMA139.98Positive
100DMA142.81Negative
200DMA136.57Positive

Market Momentum

MACD0.37Negative
RSI59.66Neutral
STOCH81.23Negative

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For IJR, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 141.48 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 138.23, above the 50-day MA of 139.98, and above the 200-day MA of 136.57, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.37 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 59.66 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 81.23 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for IJR.

IJR Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

IJR against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
IJRIJR$141.48$148.00(4.61% Upside)$105.63B0.06%65Neutral
VBVB$291.80$365.10(25.12% Upside)$78.71B0.03%66Neutral
IWMIWM$279.14$373.63(33.85% Upside)$75.49B0.19%63Neutral
SCHASCHA$33.05$43.08(30.34% Upside)$22.04B0.03%63Neutral
SPSMSPSM$54.98$66.06(20.16% Upside)$16.01B0.03%66Neutral
VIOOVIOO$131.70$160.59(21.93% Upside)$4.14B0.07%66Neutral

Performance Comparison

0%10%20%30%IJRVBIWMSCHASPSMVIOODec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
IJR and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
IJRiShares Core S&P Small Cap ETF141.4824.4420.88%
VBVanguard Small-Cap ETF291.8041.2516.47%
IWMiShares Russell 2000 ETF279.1436.9215.24%
SCHASchwab U.S. Small-Cap ETF33.055.4819.90%
SPSMSPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF54.989.5020.89%
VIOOVanguard S&P Small-Cap 600 ETF131.7022.8921.04%
Glossary
BuyAn ETF rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldAn ETF rated as a "Hold" s expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the ETF is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellAn ETF rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF may deliver lower returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer

This AI Analyst ETF Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in ETFs carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.