CNKY.L vs. VUAG.L

Last updated Jun 26, 2026

CNKY.L (iShares Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF (Acc)) and VUAG.L (Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating) are both exchange-traded funds - CNKY.L is a Japan Equities fund tracking the TOPIX TR JPY, while VUAG.L is a S&P 500 fund tracking the S&P 500 Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, CNKY.L returned 13.44%/yr vs 13.99%/yr for VUAG.L. A 0.61 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. CNKY.L charges 0.48%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for VUAG.L.

Performance

CNKY.L vs. VUAG.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in iShares Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF (Acc) (CNKY.L) and Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating (VUAG.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

CNKY.L is traded in GBp, while VUAG.L is traded in GBP. To make them comparable, the VUAG.L values have been converted to GBp using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, CNKY.L achieves a 40.32% return, which is significantly higher than VUAG.L's 9.55% return.

CNKY.L

• 1D: 2.04%
• 1M: 9.44%
• YTD: 40.32%
• 6M: 40.20%
• 1Y: 71.55%
• 3Y*: 24.51%
• 5Y*: 13.44%
• 10Y*: 12.83%

VUAG.L

• 1D: -0.94%
• 1M: -0.07%
• YTD: 9.55%
• 6M: 9.69%
• 1Y: 26.06%
• 3Y*: 19.12%
• 5Y*: 13.99%
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

CNKY.L vs. VUAG.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
CNKY.L iShares Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF (Acc)	40.32%	20.64%	9.15%	15.02%	-10.53%	-4.18%	21.18%	11.44%
VUAG.L Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating	9.55%	9.36%	27.34%	19.65%	-8.87%	30.97%	16.23%	-12.98%

Correlation

The correlation between CNKY.L and VUAG.L is 0.56, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.56
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.56
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.57
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 14, 2019	0.61

The correlation between CNKY.L and VUAG.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.56 to 0.61 - a consistent structural relationship.

CNKY.L vs. VUAG.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	CNKY.L	VUAG.L
Technology	33.3%	39.1%
Industrials	18.2%	7.8%
Consumer Cyclical	16.6%	9.9%
Communication Services	14.3%	10.7%
Healthcare	6.1%	8.3%
Basic Materials	4.1%	1.7%
Consumer Defensive	2.9%	4.5%
Financial Services	2.9%	10.9%
Real Estate	1.2%	1.8%
Energy	0.3%	3.1%
Utilities	0.2%	2.1%

Return for Risk

CNKY.L vs. VUAG.L — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

CNKY.L

CNKY.L Risk / Return Rank: 90
CNKY.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 93
CNKY.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 92
CNKY.L Omega Ratio Rank: 88
CNKY.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 92
CNKY.L Martin Ratio Rank: 86

VUAG.L

VUAG.L Risk / Return Rank: 82
VUAG.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 85
VUAG.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 83
VUAG.L Omega Ratio Rank: 84
VUAG.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 80
VUAG.L Martin Ratio Rank: 79

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

CNKY.L vs. VUAG.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF (Acc) (CNKY.L) and Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating (VUAG.L). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	CNKY.L	VUAG.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.95	2.36	+0.59
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.89	3.19	+0.69
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.48	1.43	+0.04
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	5.34	3.65	+1.70
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	15.91	13.13	+2.78

CNKY.L vs. VUAG.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current CNKY.L Sharpe Ratio is 2.95, which is comparable to the VUAG.L Sharpe Ratio of 2.36. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of CNKY.L and VUAG.L, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

CNKY.L vs. VUAG.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum CNKY.L drawdown since its inception was -99.40%, which is greater than VUAG.L's maximum drawdown of -30.82%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for CNKY.L and VUAG.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	CNKY.L	VUAG.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-99.40%	-30.82%	-68.58%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-13.32%	-7.11%	-6.21%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-19.39%	-20.88%	+1.49%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-20.83%	-20.88%	+0.05%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-23.61%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-96.44%	-1.52%	-94.92%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-95.11%	-5.45%	-89.66%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.48%	1.98%	+2.50%

Volatility

CNKY.L vs. VUAG.L - Volatility Comparison

iShares Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF (Acc) (CNKY.L) has a higher volatility of 9.49% compared to Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating (VUAG.L) at 3.56%. This indicates that CNKY.L's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VUAG.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	CNKY.L	VUAG.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	9.49%	3.56%	+5.93%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	19.72%	7.74%	+11.98%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	24.14%	11.02%	+13.12%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	18.18%	14.39%	+3.79%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.36%	17.86%	-0.50%

CNKY.L vs. VUAG.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

CNKY.L has a 0.48% expense ratio, which is higher than VUAG.L's 0.07% expense ratio.

Dividends

CNKY.L vs. VUAG.L - Dividend Comparison

Neither CNKY.L nor VUAG.L has paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
CNKY.L iShares Nikkei 225 UCITS ETF (Acc)	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VUAG.L Vanguard S&P 500 UCITS ETF (USD) Accumulating	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	1.80%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both CNKY.L and VUAG.L in my portfolio?

CNKY.L and VUAG.L have a correlation of 0.56, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, CNKY.L or VUAG.L?

On fees, VUAG.L is cheaper at 0.07% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, CNKY.L or VUAG.L?

VUAG.L is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.48% for CNKY.L.

What is the main difference between CNKY.L and VUAG.L?

CNKY.L is categorized as Japan Equities, while VUAG.L is S&P 500. CNKY.L tracks TOPIX TR JPY, while VUAG.L tracks S&P 500 Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.48% for CNKY.L and 0.07% for VUAG.L.