iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF

IJR

Market cap $92.5B

SCHA charges slightly lower fees than IJR and holds a much broader basket of small-cap stocks. IJR delivered a milder drawdown and a slightly higher dividend yield over the past year.

Bill Baruch, founder and president of Blue Line Capital, joins CNBC's “Halftime Report” to detail his latest portfolio move in the IJR.

Todd Rosenbluth, head of research at VettaFi, joined host Nate Geraci this week on ETF Prime to preview five key ETF stories to watch in 2026 following a record year that saw nearly $1.5 trillion in net inflows.

Looking for broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market? You should consider the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR), a passively managed exchange traded fund launched on May 22, 2000.

The biggest takeaway from Goldman Sachs' 2026 investment forecast, at least in my view, has to be that a more active approach might be more worth considering over a passive one, especially if you subscribe to the belief that the S&P 500 is destined for 6.5% in annual returns over the next decade, which is quite modest, even disappointing, given many investors might have the expectation for a long-term average gain closer to 10%.

S&P 500 momentum and retail inflows set the stage for a potential 2026 rally, with ETFs offering ways to ride the bullish trend.

I favor iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF as a long-term buy due to its embedded quality filter and lower expense ratio. I rate iShares Russell 2000 ETF a hold, as its recent outperformance is driven by speculative, unprofitable companies unlikely to sustain momentum. IJR's focus on profitable financials and industrials, lower volatility, and higher yield make it a superior core allocation for small-cap exposure.

iShares Morningstar Small-Cap ETF charges a slightly lower expense ratio but trails iShares Core SP Small-Cap ETF on dividend yield. ISCB offers broader diversification with over twice as many holdings, though it is much smaller and less liquid.

Hundreds of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) launched in the last year alone, further crowding an already-dense field and making it more difficult for investors to assess which might be a good fit for their portfolios.

Softer inflation and dovish signals point to more 2026 rate cuts. These ETFs can help investors ride potential gains.