Verified factor-similar pair

IJK vs IVOG

These US-listed equity ETFs share verified FF6 US factor exposure. The modeled volatility of their factor-return difference is at or below 3% annualized on both the same 36-month window and a longer factor-history check.

SMB
Current similarity score
98
Very close factor fit

The score is 100 for identical fitted exposures and 80 at the 3% modeled tracking-error limit. It includes market and non-market factors; it does not indicate which fund earned or is expected to earn more. How to read this score.

Quick Read

  • IVOG has the higher backtested relative Sharpe (0.906 vs 0.888).
  • IVOG has the lower published fee (0.10% vs 0.17%).
  • IJK is cheaper on dividend valuation (130 vs 143, where 100 is each fund's historical median).
  • IVOG has the stronger regression fit (adjusted R-squared 0.912 vs 0.905).

These are screening signals, not a complete review of portfolio construction, turnover, taxes, or trading quality.

IJK

iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF
SMB
Adj. R2
0.905
Rel. Sharpe
0.888
Mkt beta
0.91
AUM
US$10.1B
MER
0.17%
Valuation
130

IVOG

Vanguard S&P Mid-Cap 400 Growth ETF
SMB UMD
Adj. R2
0.912
Rel. Sharpe
0.906
Mkt beta
0.91
AUM
US$1.5B
MER
0.10%
Valuation
143

Market beta uses the common 36-month window through 2026-08. Adjusted R² and relative Sharpe describe each fund's separately published full-history model.

Factor Exposure Match

Blue bars compare factor beta magnitude from the same 36 months shown above. Green bars compare absolute t-stat strength; dim bars indicate |t| below 1.96. Every factor enters the distance calculation regardless of its t-statistic.

SMB
IJK
+0.51
|t|
+3.4
IVOG
+0.53
|t|
+3.5
diff -0.02
HML
IJK
-0.00
|t|
-0.0
IVOG
-0.02
|t|
-0.1
diff +0.02
RMW
IJK
-0.08
|t|
-0.7
IVOG
-0.08
|t|
-0.6
diff -0.01
CMA
IJK
+0.32
|t|
+1.6
IVOG
+0.32
|t|
+1.6
diff +0.00
UMD
IJK
+0.23
|t|
+2.4
IVOG
+0.25
|t|
+2.5
diff -0.01

What Happened Over the Same 36 Months

IJK adjusted total-return CAGR
14.99%
IVOG adjusted total-return CAGR
15.04%

IVOG ahead by 0.06 percentage points/year over 2023-09 through 2026-08. This is the observed difference between annualized compounded returns from adjusted prices, not an expected return or a factor-model estimate.

Historical factor attribution

Signed contribution to IJK minus IVOG, percentage points/year, using fitted 36-month exposures and average factor returns over those same months:

Market factor
+0.04
Other factors, combined
+0.12
Total factor-implied difference
+0.17

This arithmetic-average factor attribution excludes the regression intercept and fund-specific return. It therefore need not equal the observed CAGR difference and is not a forecast.

Why This Pair Matches

Modeled factor tracking error · 36m
0.24%/yr
Modeled tracking error · 120m factor history
0.30%/yr
Mkt beta diff
0.00
Rel. Sharpe diff
0.018

Fitted exposures and factor covariance estimate the volatility, not the average or direction, of the funds' modeled return difference. The common regression window is 2023-09 through 2026-08. A short-window estimate and a longer factor-history check must both be at or below 3.000%; this is a screening limit, not a forecast. Holdings, turnover, taxes and trading costs require a separate review. The Sharpe figures elsewhere on this page come from each fund's published full-history model and do not enter similarity ranking. See the full methodology.

IJK fund page IVOG fund page US ETF Leaders US Universe
Important context

VerifiedBeta publishes educational ETF research, not personalized investment advice, portfolio management, or security recommendations. Funds that screen well here can still be unsuitable for your objectives, taxes, liquidity needs, or constraints. Review fund documents, methodology assumptions, and your own circumstances before acting. See the full disclaimer.