ETF Versus

DGRO vs IJH

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF vs iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF

Last updated: 2026-04-02

DGRO iShares

iShares Core Dividend Growth ETF (DGRO) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to U.S. dividend-paying stocks selected for yield or dividend growth. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.08%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 2.10%. Launched in 2014, the fund has a 12-year track record.

AUM: $36.8B ER: 0.08% Yield: 2.10% Since: Jun 10, 2014
IJH iShares

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to mid-cap U.S. companies balancing growth potential and stability. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.05%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.31%. Launched in 2000, the fund has a 26-year track record.

AUM: $104.0B ER: 0.05% Yield: 1.31% Since: May 22, 2000

Quick Verdict

IJH has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.05% vs 0.08%), saving about $60 per $10,000 over 10 years. IJH has edged ahead over the past year (16.1% vs 13.9%). Income investors may prefer DGRO for its higher yield (2.1% vs 1.3%).

Key Metrics

Metric DGRO IJH
Expense Ratio 0.08% 0.05%
Dividend Yield 2.1% 1.3%
Fund Family iShares iShares
Category US Dividend US Mid Cap

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

80 95 110 125 140 155 2021-04 2022-06 2023-09 2024-12 2026-04
DGRO +42.9%
IJH +28.1%

Performance Comparison

Period DGRO IJH Difference
1 Month -4.90% -5.55% +0.65%
3 Months +0.57% +1.78% -1.21%
6 Months +2.36% +3.54% -1.18%
YTD +0.57% +1.78% -1.21%
1 Year +13.94% +16.09% -2.15%
3 Years +39.53% +36.14% +3.39%
5 Years +42.86% +28.09% +14.77%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment Period DGRO Fees IJH Fees You Save
$10.000 10 years $159 $100 $60
$10.000 20 years $686 $430 $256
$10.000 30 years $2.212 $1.388 $824
$50.000 10 years $797 $499 $298
$50.000 30 years $11.061 $6.941 $4.120
$100.000 30 years $22.123 $13.882 $8.240

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric DGRO IJH
Annualized Volatility 13.9% 19.8%
Max Drawdown -20.7% -24.6%
Sharpe Ratio 0.26 0.12

Dividend Comparison

Metric DGRO IJH
Annual Dividend (per share) $1.47 $0.89
Dividend Yield 2.10% 1.31%
Distribution Frequency Quarterly Quarterly

Top Holdings

0 of top 10 holdings overlap (0% overlap in top holdings)

DGRO Top Holdings

NameWeight
Exxon Mobil CorporationXOM3.43%
Johnson & JohnsonJNJ2.94%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.JPM2.93%
Apple Inc.AAPL2.87%
Microsoft CorporationMSFT2.71%
AbbVie Inc.ABBV2.67%
Broadcom Inc.AVGO2.49%
The Procter & Gamble CompanyPG2.14%
Philip Morris International Inc.PM2.05%
Merck & Co., Inc.MRK2.05%

IJH Top Holdings

NameWeight
TechnipFMC plcFTI0.92%
Casey's General Stores, Inc.CASY0.84%
Curtiss-Wright CorporationCW0.78%
Flex Ltd.FLEX0.76%
United Therapeutics CorporationUTHR0.72%
XPO, Inc.XPO0.70%
Woodward, Inc.WWD0.67%
US Foods Holding Corp.USFD0.64%
FabrinetFN0.63%
Burlington Stores, Inc.BURL0.62%

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose IJH if...

you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.

Choose IJH if...

recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Choose DGRO if...

you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.

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