Every iShares fund has a unique 3 or 4-letter symbol (e.g., IVV for S&P 500, SLV for Silver).

As of early 2026, several specific iShares funds have shown explosive growth, though past performance is never a guarantee of future returns:

You cannot buy iShares directly from their website. Instead, you must use a brokerage:

The iShares MSCI Global Semiconductors ETF surged over 150% in the last year.

The decision to is essentially a move into the world of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) managed by BlackRock , the world’s largest asset manager. Because iShares offers hundreds of different funds, "buying iShares" isn't a single transaction but a choice of investment strategy, ranging from ultra-safe bonds to high-growth tech stocks. 1. Understanding What You Are Buying