Best Mid Cap ETFs (2026)
Which mid-cap fund to hold — 14 funds ranked on cost, yield, return, risk and ETFValuer's overall grade.
Every figure on this page is recalculated from market data each day, so the ranking reflects current conditions rather than whenever this page was written. Educational content — not financial advice.
Top Picks Right Now
- best risk-adjusted return (Sharpe 1.56)
- lowest volatility at 11.4%
- strongest 3-year return at +52.5%
Ranked by ETFValuer's overall score. Recalculated every day from live market data — these positions change as the underlying numbers move.
At a Glance
Each superlative is measured within this group of 14 funds, not across the whole market.
All 14 Funds Ranked
| Fund | Category | Cost | Yield | 1Y | 3Y | Volatility | Max DD | Sharpe | AUM | Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 VOEVanguard Mid-Cap Value Index Fund ETF Shares | US Mid Cap | 0.05% | 1.88% | +22.8% | +52.5% | 11.4% | -18.4% | 1.56 | $37.2B | 78.6 | B+ |
| 2 IWSiShares Russell Mid-Cap Value ETF | US Mid Cap | 0.23% | 0.99% | +23.0% | +52.3% | 13.4% | -20.6% | 1.34 | $15.6B | 72.2 | B |
| 3 SCHMSchwab U.S. Mid-Cap ETF | US Mid Cap | 0.03% | 1.20% | +21.9% | +48.2% | 16.5% | -23.3% | 1.02 | $15.3B | 68.1 | B |
| 4 IJHiShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF | US Mid Cap | 0.05% | 3.72% | +19.2% | +44.9% | 15.7% | -24.1% | 0.90 | $124.3B | 66.5 | B |
| 5 VOVanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares | US Mid Cap | 0.03% | 3.73% | +13.6% | +48.2% | 12.6% | -19.0% | 0.68 | $224.0B | 66.3 | B |
| 6 IWRiShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF | US Mid Cap | 0.18% | 0.74% | +16.4% | +50.1% | 13.6% | -21.1% | 0.84 | $57.0B | 64.6 | C |
| 7 SPMDState Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 400 Mid Cap ETF | US Mid Cap | 0.03% | 1.20% | +19.2% | +45.0% | 15.7% | -24.1% | 0.90 | $18.4B | 64.0 | C |
| 8 IJKiShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF | US Mid Cap | 0.17% | 0.39% | +21.2% | +48.9% | 17.7% | -25.6% | 0.92 | $11.3B | 62.6 | C |
| 9 MDYState Street SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust | US Mid Cap | 0.23% | 0.99% | +18.8% | +43.7% | 15.6% | -24.0% | 0.88 | $28.1B | 61.9 | C |
| 10 MDYGState Street SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Growth ETF | US Mid Cap | 0.15% | 0.57% | +21.2% | +49.0% | 17.7% | -25.4% | 0.91 | $2.9B | 60.6 | C |
| 11 IJJiShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF | US Mid Cap | 0.18% | 0.96% | +17.0% | +39.8% | 15.2% | -22.7% | 0.79 | $8.7B | 58.9 | C |
| 12 MDYVState Street SPDR S&P 400 Mid Cap Value ETF | US Mid Cap | 0.15% | 1.68% | +16.9% | +40.0% | 15.1% | -22.6% | 0.79 | $2.7B | 57.3 | C |
| 13 VOTVanguard Mid-Cap Growth Index Fund ETF Shares | US Mid Cap | 0.05% | 0.59% | +1.4% | +40.3% | 17.1% | -21.8% | -0.21 | $34.8B | 50.6 | C |
| 14 IWPiShares Russell Mid-Cap Growth ETF | US Mid Cap | 0.23% | 0.23% | -2.9% | +39.2% | 17.4% | -25.2% | -0.46 | $21.6B | 44.6 | D |
Max DD is the deepest peak-to-trough fall over the measurement window. Sharpe ratio measures return per unit of volatility — higher is better. Every figure is recalculated daily.
What Makes a Good Fund Here
Mid caps sit between the S&P 500 and small caps, and are the segment most often left out by accident — an S&P 500 fund plus a small-cap fund skips them entirely.
The ETFValuer score blends trailing return, risk-adjusted return, expense ratio, maximum drawdown, fund size and volatility, each percentile-ranked against the full tracked universe, into a single 0-100 figure graded A+ to F. It is a systematic summary of past data, not a forecast — read it alongside the individual columns rather than instead of them.
Head-to-Head Comparisons
Full metric-by-metric breakdowns for the closest calls in this group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best mid cap ETF?
VOE leads the 14 mid-cap funds tracked with a score of 78.6 (B+).
Are mid caps worth holding separately?
Only if your core holding excludes them. A total-market fund covers mid caps already; an S&P 500 fund does not.
Compare any of these funds directly
Side-by-side metrics, holdings overlap and return correlation for any pair.