IJR vs VB: Which ETF Is Better in 2026?
A metric-by-metric comparison of iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) and Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VB) — both US Small Cap funds — using ETFValuer's daily-updated rankings.
Educational content — not financial advice. Data as of July 5, 2026. ~5 minute read.
The Verdict
On ETFValuer's overall model — which blends return, risk-adjusted performance, cost, drawdown, size and volatility — IJR scores higher: 72.4 (Grade B) versus 69.2 for VB. That doesn't make VB a bad fund; it means IJR currently edges it out on this specific mix of factors. Read the metric-by-metric breakdown below before deciding which matters more for your own portfolio.
Head-to-Head: Every Metric
| IJR | VB | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | US Small Cap | US Small Cap |
| Expense ratio | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| Fund size (AUM) | $103.5B | $182.7B |
| Dividend yield | 0.86% | 0.85% |
| 1-year return | +33.74% | +27.13% |
| 3-year return | +54.10% | +56.84% |
| Volatility | 17.64% | 16.55% |
| Max drawdown | -28.02% | -25.36% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.63 | 1.34 |
| ETFValuer score | 72.4 | 69.2 |
| Grade | B | B |
| Rank (of ~150) | #30 | #40 |
Bold marks the better value in each row. "Better" is directional only (e.g. lower cost, higher return) — it isn't a recommendation by itself. See the full methodology.
Cost
VB is the cheaper fund, charging 0.03% a year versus 0.06% for IJR — a gap of 0.03 percentage points (about $3.00/year on a $10,000 position) that compounds meaningfully over a multi-decade holding period. See the Fee Drag Calculator for the exact dollar impact at your investment size and horizon.
Performance & Risk
Over the trailing 3 years, VB returned +56.84% versus +54.10% for IJR — a gap of about 2.7 percentage points. On risk, VB has held up better historically, with a shallower max drawdown (-25.36% vs. -28.02%). IJR currently has the better risk-adjusted return (Sharpe ratio of 1.63 vs. 1.34), meaning it delivered more return per unit of volatility taken on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IJR or VB better?
On ETFValuer's overall model — which blends return, risk-adjusted performance, cost, drawdown, size and volatility — IJR scores higher: 72.4 (Grade B) versus 69.2 for VB. That doesn't make VB a bad fund; it means IJR currently edges it out on this specific mix of factors. Read the metric-by-metric breakdown below before deciding which matters more for your own portfolio.
Which has the lower expense ratio, IJR or VB?
VB currently has the lower expense ratio (0.03% vs. 0.06%).
Can I hold both IJR and VB?
Since IJR and VB are both US Small Cap funds, they likely hold significant overlapping positions — owning both usually adds cost and complexity without meaningfully improving diversification. Pick one rather than holding both at full weight.
Go deeper on either fund
Full daily-updated metrics, holdings context, and category peers.