Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
IJR vs KAUG: how they differ
IJR and KAUG are measured over different days, and IJR charges 0.06% against 0.79%.
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF and Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Aug.
| IJR iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF | KAUG Innovator U.S. Small Cap Power Buffer ETF - Aug | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Buffer ETF |
| Issuer | iShares | Innovator |
| What it is | S&P SmallCap 600 | Defined outcome, 15% on IWM |
| Total return, 1 year | +19.9% | not published |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | not published |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +2.4 pts | not available |
| Expense ratio | 0.06% | 0.79% |
| Holdings | 603 | not filed |
IJR in plain words
IJR is an index equity fund tracking the S&P SmallCap 600. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +19.9% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.06% a year. By its holdings filed for Jun 30, 2026, 0% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 603 positions, with the top ten at 6.0%. It sat 5.5% below its high of Aug 14, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.
KAUG in plain words
From its price on Sep 12, 2026, the fund can gain about 18.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, IWM can fall 0.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 14.2% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's IWM level. 323 days remained on Sep 12, 2026. On Jul 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.
Questions people ask
- Which is cheaper, IJR or KAUG?
- IJR charges 0.06% a year and KAUG charges 0.79%, so IJR is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- Are IJR and KAUG the same kind of fund?
- No. IJR is an index ETF and KAUG is a buffer ETF, so they are built for different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and what each actually holds.
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Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, IJR against KAUG, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/IJR-KAUG Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources