ESIF.L vs. VAPX.L

Last updated Jul 16, 2026

ESIF.L (iShares MSCI Europe Financials Sector UCITS ETF) and VAPX.L (Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF Distributing) are both exchange-traded funds - ESIF.L is a Financials Equities fund tracking the MSCI World/Financials NR USD, while VAPX.L is a Asia Pacific Equities fund tracking the MSCI AC Asia Pac Ex JPN NR USD. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, ESIF.L returned 22.76%/yr vs 10.98%/yr for VAPX.L. A 0.52 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. ESIF.L charges 0.18%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for VAPX.L.

Performance

ESIF.L vs. VAPX.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in iShares MSCI Europe Financials Sector UCITS ETF (ESIF.L) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF Distributing (VAPX.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, ESIF.L achieves a 11.73% return, which is significantly lower than VAPX.L's 35.34% return.

ESIF.L

• 1D: -0.70%
• 1M: 4.72%
• 6M: 11.47%
• YTD: 11.73%
• 1Y: 33.36%
• 3Y*: 32.14%
• 5Y*: 22.76%
• 10Y*: —

VAPX.L

• 1D: -2.32%
• 1M: -10.95%
• 6M: 28.36%
• YTD: 35.34%
• 1Y: 56.97%
• 3Y*: 21.60%
• 5Y*: 10.98%
• 10Y*: 10.62%

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

ESIF.L vs. VAPX.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020
ESIF.L iShares MSCI Europe Financials Sector UCITS ETF	11.73%	54.50%	20.18%	18.73%	3.59%	20.48%	-8.68%
VAPX.L Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF Distributing	35.34%	31.34%	-3.50%	3.89%	-1.65%	1.83%	7.14%

Correlation

The correlation between ESIF.L and VAPX.L is 0.45, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.45
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.52
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.54
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 18, 2020	0.52

The correlation between ESIF.L and VAPX.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.45 to 0.54 - a consistent structural relationship.

ESIF.L vs. VAPX.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	ESIF.L	VAPX.L
Financial Services	97.8%	21.4%
Technology	1.0%	39.9%
Industrials	0.4%	10.4%
Consumer Cyclical	0.2%	5.2%
Basic Materials	-	8.9%
Communication Services	-	2.0%
Consumer Defensive	-	2.1%
Energy	-	1.8%
Healthcare	-	2.6%
Real Estate	-	4.2%
Utilities	-	1.6%

Return for Risk

ESIF.L vs. VAPX.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

ESIF.L

ESIF.L Risk / Return Rank: 72
ESIF.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 75
ESIF.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 74
ESIF.L Omega Ratio Rank: 71
ESIF.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 70
ESIF.L Martin Ratio Rank: 68

VAPX.L

VAPX.L Risk / Return Rank: 82
VAPX.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 86
VAPX.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 75
VAPX.L Omega Ratio Rank: 85
VAPX.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 86
VAPX.L Martin Ratio Rank: 80

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.

ESIF.L vs. VAPX.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI Europe Financials Sector UCITS ETF (ESIF.L) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF Distributing (VAPX.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.

	ESIF.L	VAPX.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.92	2.20	-0.28
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.66	2.69	-0.04
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.34	1.41	-0.07
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.83	3.81	-0.97
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.86	12.19	-2.33

ESIF.L vs. VAPX.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current ESIF.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.92, which is comparable to the VAPX.L Sharpe Ratio of 2.20. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of ESIF.L and VAPX.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

ESIF.L vs. VAPX.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum ESIF.L drawdown since its inception was -23.55%, smaller than the maximum VAPX.L drawdown of -30.88%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for ESIF.L and VAPX.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	ESIF.L	VAPX.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-23.55%	-30.88%	+7.33%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-11.72%	-14.89%	+3.17%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.30%	-16.81%	+2.51%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-23.55%	-17.55%	-6.00%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-30.88%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.91%	-14.89%	+13.98%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-4.71%	-6.32%	+1.61%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.38%	4.66%	-1.28%

Volatility

ESIF.L vs. VAPX.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares MSCI Europe Financials Sector UCITS ETF (ESIF.L) is 4.11%, while Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF Distributing (VAPX.L) has a volatility of 14.28%. This indicates that ESIF.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VAPX.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	ESIF.L	VAPX.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.11%	14.28%	-10.17%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	14.74%	24.12%	-9.38%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.35%	25.75%	-8.40%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.08%	17.53%	+2.55%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.20%	18.03%	+2.17%

ESIF.L vs. VAPX.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

ESIF.L has a 0.18% expense ratio, which is higher than VAPX.L's 0.15% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

ESIF.L vs. VAPX.L - Dividend Comparison

ESIF.L has not paid dividends to shareholders, while VAPX.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.04%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
ESIF.L iShares MSCI Europe Financials Sector UCITS ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
VAPX.L Vanguard FTSE Developed Asia Pacific ex Japan UCITS ETF Distributing	2.04%	2.70%	3.47%	3.53%	4.32%	3.51%	2.08%	3.39%	3.52%	3.10%	2.71%	3.49%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both ESIF.L and VAPX.L in my portfolio?

ESIF.L and VAPX.L have a correlation of 0.45, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, ESIF.L or VAPX.L?

On fees, VAPX.L is cheaper at 0.15% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, ESIF.L or VAPX.L?

VAPX.L is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.18% for ESIF.L.

What is the main difference between ESIF.L and VAPX.L?

ESIF.L is categorized as Financials Equities, while VAPX.L is Asia Pacific Equities. ESIF.L tracks MSCI World/Financials NR USD, while VAPX.L tracks MSCI AC Asia Pac Ex JPN NR USD. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.18% for ESIF.L and 0.15% for VAPX.L.