Fund Overview
The iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF, identified by the ticker symbol IJR, operates within the Small Blend category and is managed by the prominent iShares fund family. This instrument represents a significant scale in the market, evidenced by its total assets under management of $95.76 billion, which indicates substantial popularity among institutional and retail participants seeking exposure to small-cap equities. While specific holdings data is not disclosed in the provided metrics, the fund's structure implies a diversified approach typical of broad market index funds. The fund carries an expense ratio of 0.1%, a figure that conceptually positions it as a low-cost option compared to many actively managed peers or higher-cost passive alternatives, allowing for more capital efficiency over long investment horizons.
Performance Analysis
Income-seeking investors may find the current yield of 1.3% relevant when evaluating the total return potential of the portfolio, as this metric represents the income generated relative to the fund's value. The year-to-date return stands at 7.9%, providing a snapshot of the fund's recent performance trajectory relative to the current market cycle. When analyzing longer-term consistency, the fund has delivered an average return of 10.7% over the three-year period and an average return of 3.8% over the five-year period. Comparing these figures reveals that the 7.9% YTD return significantly outpaces the 3.8% five-year average, suggesting recent market dynamics or specific sector rotations have driven short-term gains beyond the longer-term historical norm. Conversely, the lower 3.8% five-year average compared to the 10.7% three-year average highlights the cyclical nature of small-cap equities, where extended periods of lower returns can precede stronger recovery phases. The expense ratio of 0.1% directly impacts net returns by reducing the drag on performance, ensuring that a larger portion of the gross returns generated by the underlying small-cap stocks remains available to the investor over time.
Price & Risk Profile
The price action of the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF has fluctuated between a 52-week high of $133.52 and a 52-week low of $89.22, defining a wide range that indicates inherent volatility characteristic of the small-cap segment. Calculating the position within this range requires noting the span from $89.22 to $133.52, a total range of $44.30, which underscores the potential for significant price swings driven by market sentiment and economic data releases. The specific beta value for this fund is not available in the current dataset, though the wide price range observed between the 52-week high and low generally suggests volatility that may be higher or lower than the broader market depending on the specific correlation of small-cap stocks to market movements. Based on the available metrics, the overall risk profile is defined by the substantial price movement captured by the $44.30 range, illustrating that investors in this asset class must be prepared for considerable fluctuations in share price that can impact portfolio valuation quickly.