What does the term 'Small Blend' mean in ETF comparisons?

'Small Blend' refers to funds investing in US small-capitalisation companies with mixed growth and value characteristics. IJR and SCHA both fall under this category, aiming for broad exposure across various sectors. Understanding this helps investors recognise their shared strategy despite differences in cost or composition. While 'blend' implies a mix of investment styles, it doesn't guarantee identical performance due to varying methodologies, tracking approaches, or specific company weights that may differ between funds over time.

How do the expense ratios of IJR and SCHA compare?

SCHA has an expense ratio of 0.03%, half of IJR's 0.06%. Although the difference seems small, fees reduce net returns over time. On a $10,000 investment, 0.06% costs $6 annually versus $3 for SCHA. This 0.03 percentage-point gap compounds, meaning IJR requires better performance to match SCHA's net returns. Investors should consider these ongoing costs as part of long-term return calculations, especially when comparing funds targeting similar market segments.

What impact does fund size have on investing?

IJR has net assets of $106.6 billion compared to SCHA's $25.5 billion. Larger size generally provides superior liquidity, narrower bid-ask spreads, and easier trading without significant price impacts. However, massive funds face challenges in buying and selling smaller holdings without disrupting markets. While size alone doesn't guarantee better performance, it can influence trading costs and operational efficiency. SCHA's more compact size might offer advantages in certain niche segments within small-cap investing.

What should investors know about the index these funds track?

Both IJR and SCHA categorise as Small Blend ETFs, but specific indexes tracked are 'not available' in current data. This means investors cannot directly compare underlying benchmarks. While both target small-cap US stocks, differences in selection criteria, weighting methodologies, or rebalancing schedules could occur. Without confirmed index details, assessing tracking accuracy becomes challenging. Investors should look for official prospectus information to understand exactly which indices each fund replicates before making comparison conclusions.

What are the key differences in inception dates between IJR and SCHA?

IJR was launched on May 22, 2000, giving it nearly a decade of additional operating history compared to SCHA, which began on November 3, 2009. IJR's longer track record provides more data for performance evaluation during various market cycles, while SCHA's shorter history may have fewer complete cycles documented. This difference is critical for investors who rely on historical data to assess consistency, though past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Why might dividend yields differ between similar small-cap ETFs?

IJR yields 1.23% versus SCHA's 1.06%. Yields vary due to different holdings' payout policies and market value fluctuations. Higher yields might indicate larger companies in the portfolio that pay dividends or lower stock prices relative to payouts. Yield alone doesn't determine total return, as capital appreciation is crucial. Investors should consider that distribution rates can change as portfolio holdings are rebalanced and market conditions shift for small-cap companies in both funds.

How do ETF distributions work for investors?

ETFs like IJR and SCHA distribute income from underlying holdings—dividends, interest, and sometimes capital gains—to shareholders. Distributions are typically paid quarterly or annually, though timing can vary. Investors receive payments based on shares held at the record date. These distributions are not 'free money'; they reduce the fund's net asset value by the distribution amount. For both funds, yields indicate current distribution rates relative to share price, providing income alongside potential capital appreciation from small-cap market exposure.

What does 'top holdings' information reveal?

SCHA shows specific top holdings including SNDK at 5.18%, while IJR's top holdings are 'not available'. SCHA's transparency allows investors to analyse sector concentration risks directly. SNDK's high weighting indicates potential company-specific risk. With IJR's data unavailable, immediate assessment of portfolio composition isn't possible, though both target Small Blend categories. Understanding holding details helps evaluate how diversified a fund's exposure is and whether individual stock risks might impact overall performance compared to broader benchmarks.

Do these two small blend ETFs share the same top holdings?

According to the data, there are no shared top-10 holdings between IJR and SCHA. This indicates differing portfolio constructions despite targeting the same sector. IJR's top holdings are not available, while SCHA's include names such as SNDK, LITE, and RVMD. The lack of overlap suggests the funds may select stocks based on different criteria or weightings. Investors should be aware that similar asset classes do not guarantee identical portfolios or exposures, highlighting the importance of specific holdings data when available.

What does it mean when top holdings do not overlap?

The data states there are no shared names among the listed top-10 holdings of SCHA and IJR. This implies distinct portfolio compositions within the Small Blend category. While SCHA lists specific stocks like SNDK and LITE, IJR's holdings are not available. This lack of overlap can affect diversification and individual stock performance impacts. Investors should note that differing holdings can lead to varying returns, even if the overall market exposure is categorised similarly. The availability of data differs, with SCHA offering more immediate transparency.

What are the sector weight differences?

Neither IJR nor SCHA currently has available sector weight data in this comparison. This limitation prevents a direct assessment of concentration in specific industries like technology or healthcare. Investors must consult external sources or prospectuses for this detail. Without sector weights, it's harder to evaluate how each fund's performance might diverge during sector-specific market shifts. Understanding sector exposure is vital for managing risk, as both Small Blend funds could have very different industry compositions despite similar categorisations.

How might the difference in data transparency affect an investor?

SCHA provides visible top holdings, whereas IJR's holdings are 'not available'. This creates a significant disparity in analytical capability for investors. SCHA's data allows checking for concentration risks, like its largest holding SNDK at 5.18%. IJR's lack of data means investors cannot easily assess current portfolio risks or verify diversification directly from this dataset. Investors might view the more transparent fund as easier to analyse, but lack of data doesn't imply higher risk, just a different information barrier.

IJR vs SCHA

Two funds, one decision: we compare cost, performance and what each ETF actually holds in September 2026.

Compare IJR and SCHA to see how fees, holdings, dividends and market tracking differ. iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF and Schwab US Small-Cap ETF offer small-blend exposure; IJR costs 0.06% and SCHA costs 0.03%. Data: expense ratios, net assets, yields and inception dates. Holdings are not available for IJR; SCHA lists top holdings with no shared names. Educational content, not financial advice.

Fund Snapshot

Key Fund Metrics

IJR

Metric

SCHA

0.06%

Expense Ratio

0.03%

1.23%

Dividend Yield

1.06%

$106.62B

Net Assets

$25.48B

652

Holdings

1,704

May 22, 2000

Inception Date

Nov 3, 2009

–

Index Tracked

–

Small Blend

Fund Category

Small Blend

SCHA costs about $3.00 less per year for every $10,000 invested.

Shared Top Holdings

These funds do not share any of their top holdings.

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IJR vs IWM

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Compare IJR and VIOO on fees, dividends, holdings and tracking. IJR 0.06% and VIOO 0.07% expense ratios; assets $106.6bn vs $4.2bn; yields 1.23% vs 1.16%.

IJR vs VB

Compare IJR and VB by fees, holdings and dividends. IJR has 0.06% expense ratio, VB has 0.03%. Both yield 1.23%. Index tracking data not available.

Investment Analysis

IJR

Pros

Very large net assets of $106.6 billion enhance trading liquidity and reduce tracking error risk.
Long track record since inception in May 2000 supports proven replication of the small-cap blend benchmark.
Higher dividend yield of 1.23 percent may attract income-focused small-cap investors.

Considerations

Expense ratio of 0.06 percent is three times higher than the lower-cost small-cap ETF alternative.
Current holdings are not available in the provided data, limiting immediate transparency on portfolio composition.
Sector weights are not available, preventing straightforward assessment of current sector concentration within the fund.

SCHA

Pros

Expense ratio of 0.03 percent makes SCHA one of the lower-cost options for small-cap blend exposure.
Net assets of $25.5 billion provide substantial scale for institutional investors and efficient secondary-market trading.
Top holdings include well-known names such as SNDK at 5.18 percent, offering immediate transparency on key positions.

Considerations

Inception date of November 3 2009 means the fund has a shorter historical operating record than IJR.
Dividend yield of 1.06 percent is lower than the comparable yield offered by the other small-cap fund.
Highest single holding SNDK at 5.18 percent introduces notable concentration risk relative to broader diversified portfolios.

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About IJR and SCHA

IJR (IJR)

The iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) is designed to track the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, providing exposure to US small-capitalisation companies. With an expense ratio of just 0.06% and substantial net assets of USD 106.62 billion, it offers investors a cost-effective route to diversified small-cap equity exposure. The fund holds 652 securities, capturing a wide spectrum of the small-cap market, which is often characterised by higher growth potential but also greater volatility compared to large-cap firms. Investors may consider this ETF to balance their portfolios with the dynamism of smaller companies, which can be sensitive to economic cycles and interest rate changes. As with any investment in equities, values can fall as well as rise, and returns are not guaranteed. It serves as a building block for those seeking specific exposure to the US small-cap segment within a global or multi-asset strategy.

SCHA (SCHA)

Schwab US Small‑Cap ETF (SCHA) offers broad exposure to US small-capitalisation companies through a low-cost, market‑weighted fund managed by Charles Schwab. It seeks to track a small‑cap index, providing diversified access to hundreds of smaller US-listed firms across sectors. Investors often use SCHA to complement large‑cap holdings, potentially enhancing long‑term growth and diversification, though small caps can be more volatile and sensitive to economic cycles. As an ETF, SCHA trades like a stock on exchanges, making it easy to buy or sell during market hours. It typically has a low expense ratio, but investors should also consider bid‑ask spreads, tracking error, and tax implications. This is general educational information and not personalised advice; returns are not guaranteed and the value of an investment can fall as well as rise. Suitability will depend on an individual’s goals, risk tolerance and investment horizon.

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IJR vs SCHA

Fund Snapshot