IJR vs. AGTHX
IJR (iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF) and AGTHX (American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class A) are both funds - IJR is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the S&P SmallCap 600 Index, while AGTHX is a Large Cap Growth Equities fund actively managed by Capital Group. IJR is passively managed, while AGTHX is actively managed. Over the past 10 years, IJR returned 11.21%/yr vs 15.79%/yr for AGTHX. Their correlation of 0.82 suggests significant overlap in exposure. IJR charges 0.06%/yr vs 0.59%/yr for AGTHX.
Performance
IJR vs. AGTHX - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IJR achieves a 19.86% return, which is significantly higher than AGTHX's 6.60% return. Over the past 10 years, IJR has underperformed AGTHX with an annualized return of 11.21%, while AGTHX has yielded a comparatively higher 15.79% annualized return.
IJR
- 1D
- 0.11%
- 1M
- 7.39%
- YTD
- 19.86%
- 6M
- 16.97%
- 1Y
- 37.16%
- 3Y*
- 15.09%
- 5Y*
- 6.35%
- 10Y*
- 11.21%
AGTHX
- 1D
- 0.27%
- 1M
- 0.45%
- YTD
- 6.60%
- 6M
- 7.72%
- 1Y
- 21.49%
- 3Y*
- 22.87%
- 5Y*
- 11.31%
- 10Y*
- 15.79%
IJR vs. AGTHX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IJR iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF | 19.86% | 5.89% | 8.63% | 16.06% | -16.20% | 26.58% | 11.28% | 22.82% | -8.51% | 13.15% |
AGTHX American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class A | 6.60% | 19.73% | 28.02% | 37.22% | -30.75% | 19.32% | 37.83% | 28.16% | -3.15% | 26.14% |
Correlation
The correlation between IJR and AGTHX is 0.68, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.68 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.71 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.77 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.73 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 26, 2000 | 0.82 |
The correlation between IJR and AGTHX shifts across timeframes, from 0.68 (1 year) to 0.82 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
IJR vs. AGTHX — Risk / Return Rank
IJR
AGTHX
IJR vs. AGTHX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) and American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class A (AGTHX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| IJR | AGTHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.86 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.28 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.36 | 1.23 | +0.13 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 4.30 | 1.46 | +2.84 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.44 | 5.60 | +8.84 |
Loading charts...
Drawdowns
IJR vs. AGTHX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IJR drawdown since its inception was -58.15%, which is greater than AGTHX's maximum drawdown of -51.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IJR and AGTHX.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| IJR | AGTHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -58.15% | -51.91% | -6.24% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.68% | -13.76% | +5.08% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -28.02% | -21.57% | -6.45% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.02% | -36.38% | +8.36% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -44.36% | -36.38% | -7.98% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | 0.00% | -3.49% | +3.49% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.27% | -9.19% | -0.08% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.58% | 3.59% | -1.01% |
Volatility
IJR vs. AGTHX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) is 5.17%, while American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class A (AGTHX) has a volatility of 6.25%. This indicates that IJR experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than AGTHX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| IJR | AGTHX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 5.17% | 6.25% | -1.08% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.93% | 12.77% | -0.84% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 17.67% | 16.00% | +1.67% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 21.44% | 20.37% | +1.07% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.93% | 19.75% | +3.18% |
IJR vs. AGTHX - Expense Ratio Comparison
IJR has a 0.06% expense ratio, which is lower than AGTHX's 0.59% expense ratio.
Dividends
IJR vs. AGTHX - Dividend Comparison
IJR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.42%, less than AGTHX's 10.03% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
AGTHX American Funds The Growth Fund of America Class A | 10.03% | 10.69% | 8.99% | 7.40% | 4.05% | 8.18% | 4.30% | 7.15% | 11.99% | 7.03% | 6.61% | 8.87% |
IJR iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF | 1.42% | 1.44% | 2.05% | 1.31% | 1.41% | 1.53% | 1.11% | 1.44% | 1.58% | 1.20% | 1.22% | 1.48% |
Frequently Asked Questions
IJR and AGTHX have a correlation of 0.68, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
AGTHX has higher volatility (6.25%) compared to IJR (5.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IJR dropped -58.15% vs AGTHX's -51.91%.
IJR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.12 vs 1.26), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
Find the right allocation for IJR and AGTHX
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer