IJH vs LQD
iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF vs iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-02
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.
iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (LQD) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to investment-grade U.S. corporate bonds. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.14%. The fund offers a high dividend yield of 4.53%. Launched in 2002, the fund has a 24-year track record.
Quick Verdict
IJH has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.05% vs 0.14%), saving about $178 per $10,000 over 10 years. Over the past year, IJH has significantly outperformed with a 16.1% return vs 0.0%. Income investors may prefer LQD for its higher yield (4.5% vs 1.3%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
IJH Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| TechnipFMC plcFTI | 0.92% |
| Casey's General Stores, Inc.CASY | 0.84% |
| Curtiss-Wright CorporationCW | 0.78% |
| Flex Ltd.FLEX | 0.76% |
| United Therapeutics CorporationUTHR | 0.72% |
| XPO, Inc.XPO | 0.70% |
| Woodward, Inc.WWD | 0.67% |
| US Foods Holding Corp.USFD | 0.64% |
| FabrinetFN | 0.63% |
| Burlington Stores, Inc.BURL | 0.62% |
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 LQD if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.