%0 Journal Article %A A. Seddik Meziani %T Russell 2000 Versus S&P SmallCap 600 %B Beauty Is in the Eye of the Beholder %D 2003 %J Special Issues %P 7-16 %V 2003 %N 1 %X This study examines the performance gap between the S&P SmallCap 600 and the Russell 2000. Analysis of the monthly performance differences between the two shows that the S&P 600 outperformance over the Russell 2000 has been fairly persistent since most years the S&P 600 outperformed the Russell 2000. An examination of the benchmarks in terms of their makeup, reconstitution methodologies, sector weights, and several other factors that might explain the gap reveals that there is reason to believe that the Russell 2000 performance distortions following its June 30 rebalancing date each year might be the most important cause. In spite of these post-rebalancing effects and their negative drag on performance, it's not obvious that the S&P 600 is the superior benchmark. %U https://guides.pm-research.com/content/iijspecial/2003/1/7.full.pdf