EPP vs. EWJ
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF (EPP) and iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ).
EPP and EWJ are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. EPP is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Pacific ex-Japan Index. It was launched on Oct 25, 2001. EWJ is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Japan Index. It was launched on Mar 12, 1996. Both EPP and EWJ are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
EPP vs. EWJ - Performance Comparison
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EPP vs. EWJ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EPP iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF | 5.29% | 19.70% | 4.76% | 5.76% | -6.59% | 4.26% | 6.04% | 18.30% | -10.78% | 26.05% |
EWJ iShares MSCI Japan ETF | 4.58% | 25.84% | 7.03% | 20.29% | -17.72% | 1.16% | 15.40% | 19.34% | -14.10% | 24.27% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, EPP achieves a 5.29% return, which is significantly higher than EWJ's 4.58% return. Over the past 10 years, EPP has underperformed EWJ with an annualized return of 7.32%, while EWJ has yielded a comparatively higher 8.78% annualized return.
EPP
- 1D
- 2.47%
- 1M
- -6.44%
- YTD
- 5.29%
- 6M
- 5.22%
- 1Y
- 25.20%
- 3Y*
- 10.91%
- 5Y*
- 5.11%
- 10Y*
- 7.32%
EWJ
- 1D
- 3.58%
- 1M
- -8.59%
- YTD
- 4.58%
- 6M
- 9.21%
- 1Y
- 28.81%
- 3Y*
- 16.27%
- 5Y*
- 6.62%
- 10Y*
- 8.78%
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EPP vs. EWJ - Expense Ratio Comparison
EPP has a 0.48% expense ratio, which is lower than EWJ's 0.49% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
EPP vs. EWJ — Risk / Return Rank
EPP
EWJ
EPP vs. EWJ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF (EPP) and iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ). 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.
| EPP | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.36 | 1.32 | +0.04 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.89 | 1.92 | -0.03 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.29 | 1.26 | +0.03 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.86 | 2.03 | -0.17 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.35 | 7.50 | +0.85 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| EPP | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.36 | 1.32 | +0.04 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.30 | 0.37 | -0.07 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.38 | 0.51 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.38 | 0.10 | +0.28 |
Correlation
The correlation between EPP and EWJ is 0.65, which is considered to be moderate. This suggests that the two assets have some degree of positive relationship in their price movements. Moderate correlation can be acceptable for portfolio diversification, offering a balance between risk and potential returns.
Dividends
EPP vs. EWJ - Dividend Comparison
EPP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.58%, less than EWJ's 4.33% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EPP iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF | 3.58% | 3.77% | 3.81% | 4.10% | 4.37% | 4.58% | 2.28% | 3.89% | 5.00% | 4.15% | 3.96% | 4.90% |
EWJ iShares MSCI Japan ETF | 4.33% | 4.52% | 2.34% | 2.03% | 1.23% | 2.08% | 1.04% | 2.03% | 1.71% | 1.25% | 1.95% | 1.27% |
Drawdowns
EPP vs. EWJ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum EPP drawdown since its inception was -66.01%, which is greater than EWJ's maximum drawdown of -60.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EPP and EWJ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| EPP | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -66.01% | -60.93% | -5.08% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -13.34% | -13.59% | +0.25% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.31% | -33.14% | +6.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -39.30% | -33.14% | -6.16% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.54% | -10.14% | +3.60% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.68% | -21.84% | +11.16% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.97% | 3.68% | -0.71% |
Volatility
EPP vs. EWJ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI Pacific ex Japan ETF (EPP) is 7.31%, while iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) has a volatility of 9.41%. This indicates that EPP experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EWJ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| EPP | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.31% | 9.41% | -2.10% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.13% | 14.87% | -3.74% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.61% | 21.87% | -3.26% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.30% | 18.10% | -0.80% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.11% | 17.31% | +1.80% |