Should iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF (IJS) Be on Your Investing Radar?

Core Insights - The iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF (IJS) is a passively managed ETF launched on July 24, 2000, with assets exceeding $6.39 billion, making it a significant player in the Small Cap Value segment of the US equity market [1] Investment Potential - Small cap companies, defined as those with market capitalizations below $2 billion, present high potential but also come with elevated risks [2] - Value stocks typically exhibit lower price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios, along with lower sales and earnings growth rates, but have historically outperformed growth stocks in most markets, although they may lag in strong bull markets [3] Cost Structure - The annual operating expenses for IJS are 0.18%, positioning it as one of the more cost-effective options in the ETF space, with a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.80% [4] Sector Allocation and Holdings - The ETF has a significant allocation to the Financials sector, comprising approximately 22.20% of the portfolio, followed by Industrials and Consumer Discretionary [5] - Mr Cooper Group Inc (COOP) represents about 1.46% of total assets, with the top 10 holdings accounting for roughly 3.81% of total assets under management [6] Performance Metrics - IJS aims to replicate the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Value Index, having experienced a year-to-date loss of approximately -2.64% and a one-year gain of about 10.11% as of July 11, 2025, with a trading range between $83.54 and $118.05 over the past 52 weeks [7] - The ETF has a beta of 1.06 and a standard deviation of 22.49% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile with effective diversification across 471 holdings [8] Alternatives - IJS holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), indicating strong potential based on expected returns, expense ratios, and momentum, making it a favorable option for investors interested in the Small Cap Value segment [9] - Other comparable ETFs include the iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (IWN) with $11.56 billion in assets and an expense ratio of 0.24%, and the Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF (VBR) with $30.66 billion in assets and a lower expense ratio of 0.07% [10] Conclusion - Passively managed ETFs like IJS are gaining popularity among retail and institutional investors due to their low costs, transparency, flexibility, and tax efficiency, making them suitable for long-term investment strategies [11]