Is IJH a good ETF?
IJH is the iShares S&P Mid-Cap ETF from iShares. It tracks the S&P MidCap 400 Index. We classify it under US and Market-Cap. With about $495 million in assets it is a solidly established fund. Listed on the ASX since 2007-10-29 (almost 19 years ago).
On a total-return basis, IJH has delivered 11.53% a year over 10 years (ranked 28th of 108 ETFs we track), 9.18% a year over 5 years (ranked 67th of 188 ETFs we track), 11.12% a year over 3 years (ranked 101st of 226 ETFs we track), and 10.66% a year over 1 year (ranked 120th of 308 ETFs we track).
The management fee of 0.07% is very low — typical of low-cost index funds. That's cheaper than the typical 0.31% for similar ETFs. If cost is your priority, VTS (0.03%) and IVV (0.04%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a low 1.2% yield, so most of its return must come from capital growth.
Over the past 10 years its volatility has been elevated (annualised standard deviation around 15.09%), meaning noticeably larger swings than the broad market. Its 10-year Sharpe ratio of 0.66 is reasonable — that's the return it has earned per unit of risk taken (higher is better).
Portfolio turnover is low at about 15% a year — it trades only a small slice of its holdings each year, so trading costs and tax on realised gains stay modest — typical of a passive index strategy.
Strengths
- Low-cost: a 0.07% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
Things to watch
- Cheaper alternatives exist: VTS and IVV.
Good to know
- Low 1.2% yield — this is a growth-oriented fund, not an income play.
What IJH's categories mean for you
How each category this ETF belongs to tends to behave across market cycles.
US-listed companies — the world's deepest, most innovation-heavy market and home to the mega-cap tech names. Has led global returns for over a decade.
- Market regime
- Strong leadership has left valuations high and the index heavily concentrated in a handful of tech giants. Unhedged funds also rise and fall with the AUD/USD exchange rate.
- In a portfolio
- A legitimate core holding for global exposure, but be aware you are buying after a long run of outperformance and at elevated valuations.
Holdings are weighted by company size, so the largest companies carry the most weight. These funds are cheap, tax-efficient and self-rebalancing.
- Market regime
- Works in almost any regime as a low-maintenance core. The trade-off is concentration — you automatically own more of whatever has already become expensive at the top of a bull market.
- In a portfolio
- The classic buy-and-hold core of most portfolios. Well suited to long-term, hands-off investing.
General information only, generated from the fund's published data — not personal financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Consider your own circumstances or seek licensed advice before investing.