Small-Cap Stocks Gain Momentum. That's Good News for This iShares ETF
The clouds appear to be parting for small-cap stocks, which bodes well for one of our favorite exchange-traded funds.
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Today
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more delivered daily. Smart money moves start here.
Sent five days a week
Kiplinger A Step Ahead
Get practical help to make better financial decisions in your everyday life, from spending to savings on top deals.
Delivered daily
Kiplinger Closing Bell
Get today's biggest financial and investing headlines delivered to your inbox every day the U.S. stock market is open.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Adviser Intel
Financial pros across the country share best practices and fresh tactics to preserve and grow your wealth.
Delivered weekly
Kiplinger Tax Tips
Trim your federal and state tax bills with practical tax-planning and tax-cutting strategies.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Retirement Tips
Your twice-a-week guide to planning and enjoying a financially secure and richly rewarding retirement
Sent bimonthly.
Kiplinger Adviser Angle
Insights for advisers, wealth managers and other financial professionals.
Sent twice a week
Kiplinger Investing Weekly
Your twice-a-week roundup of promising stocks, funds, companies and industries you should consider, ones you should avoid, and why.
Sent weekly for six weeks
Kiplinger Invest for Retirement
Your step-by-step six-part series on how to invest for retirement, from devising a successful strategy to exactly which investments to choose.
Since the April 2025 market low, small-capitalization stocks have kept pace with, and at times even outpaced, shares in large companies. Many strategists expect the rally in small-cap stocks to continue.
After a two-year profit downturn, earnings growth at small firms is turning up, says Francis Gannon, co-chief investment officer at small-cap specialist Royce Investment Partners. Lower interest rates, deregulation, and strong activity in mergers and acquisitions and in initial public offerings (IPOs) have been a boon.
Even the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, President Donald Trump's 2025 tax bill, could help small-cap earnings this year, thanks to certain tax benefits, says Gannon. "In any broadening of overall stock market returns, small caps are going to participate and do better than many people think," he says.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
But little of that optimism is evident in the one-year returns of small-company stocks. The iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR), our favorite small-cap exchange-traded fund and member of the Kiplinger ETF 20, lost 2.6% over the 12-month period ending in November.
Interestingly, that lagged the 4.1% gain in the Russell 2000 small-company benchmark over the same stretch.
The worst small caps have been first. What gives?
The iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF follows the S&P 600 Index, which includes a filter for profitable companies; the Russell index doesn't. And lower-quality fare has done best, at least since the April low, says Gannon.
Unprofitable firms in the Russell 2000, he says, soared 93% between the April 2025 low and the end of October. By contrast, profitable firms returned just 27%. That's typical behavior coming out of a low, but eventually high-quality stocks rally, too. Given the many factors supporting earnings growth, "we could have a nice run in small caps from here," he says.
We favor the iShares Core S&P Small-Cap over an ETF that tracks the Russell 2000. The iShares fund's holdings don't overlap with an S&P 500 index fund, for starters. And stocks in the S&P 600 trade at a price-to-earnings multiple of just under 16, based on estimated earnings — a discount to the Russell 2000, which trades at 21.
Note: This item first appeared in Kiplinger Personal Finance Magazine, a monthly, trustworthy source of advice and guidance. Subscribe to help you make more money and keep more of the money you make here.
Related Content
-
Look Out for These Gold Bar Scams as Prices SurgeFraudsters impersonating government agents are convincing victims to convert savings into gold — and handing it over in courier scams costing Americans millions.
-
How to Turn Your 401(k) Into A Real Estate EmpireTapping your 401(k) to purchase investment properties is risky, but it could deliver valuable rental income in your golden years.
-
My First $1 Million: Retired Nuclear Plant Supervisor, 68Ever wonder how someone who's made a million dollars or more did it? Kiplinger's My First $1 Million series uncovers the answers.
-
Don't Bury Your Kids in Taxes: How to Position Your Investments to Help Create More Wealth for ThemTo minimize your heirs' tax burden, focus on aligning your investment account types and assets with your estate plan, and pay attention to the impact of RMDs.
-
Are You 'Too Old' to Benefit From an Annuity?Probably not, even if you're in your 70s or 80s, but it depends on your circumstances and the kind of annuity you're considering.
-
In Your 50s and Seeing Retirement in the Distance? What You Do Now Can Make a Significant ImpactThis is the perfect time to assess whether your retirement planning is on track and determine what steps you need to take if it's not.
-
Your Retirement Isn't Set in Stone, But It Can Be a Work of ArtSetting and forgetting your retirement plan will make it hard to cope with life's challenges. Instead, consider redrawing and refining your plan as you go.
-
The Bear Market Protocol: 3 Strategies to Consider in a Down MarketThe Bear Market Protocol: 3 Strategies for a Down Market From buying the dip to strategic Roth conversions, there are several ways to use a bear market to your advantage — once you get over the fear factor.
-
Dow Adds 1,206 Points to Top 50,000: Stock Market TodayThe S&P 500 and Nasdaq also had strong finishes to a volatile week, with beaten-down tech stocks outperforming.
-
The Best Precious Metals ETFs to Buy in 2026Precious metals ETFs provide a hedge against monetary debasement and exposure to industrial-related tailwinds from emerging markets.
-
For the 2% Club, the Guardrails Approach and the 4% Rule Do Not Work: Here's What Works InsteadFor retirees with a pension, traditional withdrawal rules could be too restrictive. You need a tailored income plan that is much more flexible and realistic.
