Launched on 05/22/2000, the iShares Core S&P SmallCap ETF (IJR) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.The fund is sponsored by Blackrock. It has amassed assets over $73.37 billion, making it the largest ETFs attempting to match the Small Cap Blend segment of the US equity market.Why Small Cap BlendWith more potential comes more risk, and small cap companies, with market capitalization below $2 billion, epitomizes this way of thinking.Typically holding a combination of both growth and value stocks, blend ETFs also demonstrate qualities seen in value and growth investments.CostsSince cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.06%, making it one of the least expensive products in the space.It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 1.59%.Sector Exposure and Top HoldingsETFs offer a diversified exposure and thus minimize single stock risk but it is still important to delve into a fund's holdings before investing. Most ETFs are very transparent products and many disclose their holdings on a daily basis.This ETF has heaviest allocation to the Industrials sector--about 16.90% of the portfolio. Information Technology and Consumer Discretionary round out the top three.Looking at individual holdings, Blk Csh Fnd Treasury Sl Agency (XTSLA) accounts for about 1.17% of total assets, followed by Macys Inc (M) and Omnicell Inc (OMCL).The top 10 holdings account for about 6.53% of total assets under management.Performance and RiskIJR seeks to match the performance of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index before fees and expenses. The S&P SmallCap 600 Index measures the performance of the small capitalization sector of the U.S. equity market.The ETF has lost about -4.52% so far this year and is up roughly 12.79% in the last one year (as of 01/19/2022). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $97.57 and $120.32.The ETF has a beta of 1.19 and standard deviation of 29.15% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 683 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.AlternativesIShares Core S&P SmallCap ETF holds a Zacks ETF Rank of 2 (Buy), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Because of this, IJR is a great option for investors seeking exposure to the Style Box - Small Cap Blend segment of the market. There are other additional ETFs in the space that investors could consider as well.The Vanguard SmallCap ETF (VB) and the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM) track a similar index. While Vanguard SmallCap ETF has $47.53 billion in assets, iShares Russell 2000 ETF has $62.95 billion. VB has an expense ratio of 0.05% and IWM charges 0.19%.Bottom-LinePassively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center. Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. It’s bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made. The only question is “Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest?” Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today it’s free. Discover 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale.Download FREE: How to Profit from Trillions on Spending for Infrastructure >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report iShares Core S&P SmallCap ETF (IJR): ETF Research Reports Macy's, Inc. (M): Free Stock Analysis Report Omnicell, Inc. (OMCL): Free Stock Analysis Report iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM): ETF Research Reports Vanguard SmallCap ETF (VB): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here.