SMMD vs. XJR

Last updated Aug 2, 2026

SMMD (iShares Russell 2500 ETF) and XJR (iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SMMD is a Small Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Russell 2500 Index, while XJR is a Small Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the S&P SmallCap 600 Sustainability Screened Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, SMMD returned 8.05%/yr vs 7.17%/yr for XJR. Their correlation of 0.95 means they have usually moved in the same direction. SMMD charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.12%/yr for XJR.

Performance

SMMD vs. XJR - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Russell 2500 ETF (SMMD) and iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF (XJR). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SMMD achieves a 19.46% return, which is significantly lower than XJR's 21.53% return.

SMMD

• 1D: -0.29%
• 1M: -1.85%
• 6M: 13.62%
• YTD: 19.46%
• 1Y: 32.80%
• 3Y*: 15.59%
• 5Y*: 8.05%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 11.06%

XJR

• 1D: -0.12%
• 1M: -0.71%
• 6M: 15.81%
• YTD: 21.53%
• 1Y: 33.14%
• 3Y*: 13.33%
• 5Y*: 7.17%
• 10Y*: —
• ALL TIME*: 15.09%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

Position	Avg. Volume Value (2W)	Avg. Volume Value (1M)	Avg. Volume Value (3M)
SMMD iShares Russell 2500 ETF	$22.23M	$19.32M	$23.61M
XJR iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF	$397.40K	$346.04K	$432.61K

SMMD vs. XJR - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
SMMD iShares Russell 2500 ETF	19.46%	11.72%	11.87%	17.71%	-18.53%	18.30%	32.02%
XJR iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF	21.53%	4.73%	9.59%	16.39%	-17.30%	24.96%	35.61%

Correlation

The correlation between SMMD and XJR is 0.90, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.	0.90
Correlation (3Y) Balances recent behavior with more history.	0.94
Correlation (5Y) Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.	0.95
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 24, 2020	0.95

The correlation between SMMD and XJR has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.95 - a consistent structural relationship.

SMMD vs. XJR - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	SMMD	XJR
Industrials	19.1%	15.8%
Technology	15.5%	16.2%
Financial Services	15.2%	17.7%
Healthcare	14.5%	12.6%
Consumer Cyclical	10.7%	13.9%
Real Estate	7.7%	7.7%
Basic Materials	4.4%	4.5%
Energy	4.0%	3.1%
Consumer Defensive	3.5%	3.6%
Utilities	2.8%	1.5%
Communication Services	2.7%	3.3%

Return for Risk

SMMD vs. XJR — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.

SMMD

SMMD Risk / Return Rank: 80
SMMD Sharpe Ratio Rank: 77
SMMD Sortino Ratio Rank: 78
SMMD Omega Ratio Rank: 73
SMMD Calmar Ratio Rank: 85
SMMD Martin Ratio Rank: 86

XJR

XJR Risk / Return Rank: 80
XJR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 78
XJR Sortino Ratio Rank: 81
XJR Omega Ratio Rank: 74
XJR Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
XJR Martin Ratio Rank: 82

The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

SMMD vs. XJR - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell 2500 ETF (SMMD) and iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF (XJR). 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.

	SMMD	XJR	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.75	1.77	-0.02
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.51	2.64	-0.12
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.30	1.31	-0.01
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.19	3.33	-0.13
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	12.03	10.84	+1.19

SMMD vs. XJR - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SMMD Sharpe Ratio is 1.75, which is comparable to the XJR Sharpe Ratio of 1.77. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SMMD and XJR, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

SMMD vs. XJR - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SMMD drawdown since its inception was -41.06%, which is greater than XJR's maximum drawdown of -27.14%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SMMD and XJR.

Drawdown Indicators

	SMMD	XJR	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-41.06%	-27.14%	-13.92%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-9.66%	-9.43%	-0.23%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-25.50%	-27.14%	+1.64%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-28.26%	-27.14%	-1.12%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.77%	-2.18%	-0.59%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.25%	-9.25%	+1.00%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.56%	2.89%	-0.33%

Volatility

SMMD vs. XJR - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Russell 2500 ETF (SMMD) is 3.17%, while iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF (XJR) has a volatility of 3.74%. This indicates that SMMD experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than XJR based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SMMD	XJR	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.17%	3.74%	-0.57%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	13.18%	12.25%	+0.93%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.61%	17.74%	-0.13%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.81%	21.30%	-0.49%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	22.27%	21.57%	+0.70%

SMMD vs. XJR - Expense Ratio Comparison

SMMD has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than XJR's 0.12% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

SMMD vs. XJR - Dividend Comparison

SMMD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.07%, more than XJR's 0.94% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
SMMD iShares Russell 2500 ETF	1.07%	1.28%	1.27%	1.44%	1.79%	1.12%	1.31%	1.50%	2.45%	0.68%
XJR iShares ESG Screened S&P Small-Cap ETF	0.94%	1.14%	1.96%	0.92%	1.29%	2.00%	0.58%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both SMMD and XJR in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.90, SMMD and XJR move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which is riskier, SMMD or XJR?

XJR has higher volatility (3.74%) compared to SMMD (3.17%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SMMD dropped -41.06% vs XJR's -27.14%.

Which ETF is better, SMMD or XJR?

On 5-year performance, SMMD leads with 8.05% vs 7.17% for XJR. On fees, XJR is cheaper at 0.12% per year. On volatility, SMMD has been the lower-risk option at 3.17%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, SMMD or XJR?

Over the 5-year period, SMMD has performed better with a 8.05% return vs 7.17%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, SMMD or XJR?

XJR is cheaper with a 0.12% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for SMMD.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, SMMD or XJR?

SMMD has the higher dividend yield at 1.07%, compared with 0.94% for XJR.

What is the main difference between SMMD and XJR?

SMMD is categorized as Small Cap Growth Equities, while XJR is Small Cap Blend Equities. SMMD tracks Russell 2500 Index, while XJR tracks S&P SmallCap 600 Sustainability Screened Index. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for SMMD and 0.12% for XJR.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

XJR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.77 vs 1.75), 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.