Small Caps: index funds & ETFs with the highest historical return
Ranked by historical return alone, highest first: iShares MSCI USA Small Cap (iShares) leads with an approximate 8% annualized return. Past returns don't guarantee future ones, and a higher return usually comes with higher risk — check each fund's risk indicator before choosing.
iShares MSCI USA Small Cap
iShares · Small Caps
Hist. return*
~8%
iShares MSCI World Small Cap
iShares · Small Caps
Hist. return*
~8%
SPDR Russell 2000 US Small Cap
SPDR · Small Caps
Hist. return*
~8%
Vanguard Global Small-Cap Index Fund EUR Acc
Vanguard · Small Caps
Hist. return*
~8%
SPDR MSCI Europe Small Cap
SPDR · Small Caps
Hist. return*
~7%
Frequently asked questions
How is this ranking built?+
A single, explicit, objective criterion: the approximate historical annualized return of the index each fund tracks, sorted from highest to lowest in the Small Caps category. No sponsored placements, no editorial picks.
Is the cheapest / highest-return fund always the best choice?+
Not necessarily — and be careful here: a high historical return usually reflects a riskier, more concentrated index (tech, a single country), and past performance is no guarantee of future results. Check the risk indicator before deciding.
How many funds are in this Small Caps ranking?+
5 — every fund and ETF in the Small Caps category in our catalog whose data we're confident is accurate and current. Quality over an arbitrary count.
Other rankings
* Indicative long-term annualized historical return of the benchmark index, not the fund. Always check the up-to-date TER, risk and data in the official factsheet linked. Past returns do not guarantee future returns.