EWA vs. EWJ
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI-Australia ETF (EWA) and iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ).
EWA and EWJ are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. EWA is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Australia Index. It was launched on Mar 18, 1996. 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 EWA 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
EWA vs. EWJ - Performance Comparison
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EWA vs. EWJ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EWA iShares MSCI-Australia ETF | 7.25% | 13.35% | 1.60% | 13.81% | -5.92% | 8.93% | 8.29% | 22.45% | -12.04% | 19.88% |
EWJ iShares MSCI Japan ETF | 7.11% | 25.84% | 7.03% | 20.29% | -17.72% | 1.16% | 15.40% | 19.34% | -14.10% | 24.27% |
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with EWA having a 7.25% return and EWJ slightly lower at 7.11%. Over the past 10 years, EWA has underperformed EWJ with an annualized return of 8.25%, while EWJ has yielded a comparatively higher 9.04% annualized return.
EWA
- 1D
- 1.19%
- 1M
- -6.15%
- YTD
- 7.25%
- 6M
- 5.23%
- 1Y
- 22.34%
- 3Y*
- 10.85%
- 5Y*
- 6.55%
- 10Y*
- 8.25%
EWJ
- 1D
- 2.42%
- 1M
- -4.12%
- YTD
- 7.11%
- 6M
- 11.85%
- 1Y
- 32.61%
- 3Y*
- 17.20%
- 5Y*
- 7.13%
- 10Y*
- 9.04%
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EWA vs. EWJ - Expense Ratio Comparison
EWA has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is higher than EWJ's 0.49% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
EWA vs. EWJ — Risk / Return Rank
EWA
EWJ
EWA vs. EWJ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI-Australia ETF (EWA) 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.
| EWA | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.06 | 1.49 | -0.43 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.54 | 2.12 | -0.58 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.23 | 1.29 | -0.07 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.85 | 2.35 | -0.50 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.79 | 8.67 | -1.87 |
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
| EWA | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.06 | 1.49 | -0.43 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.34 | 0.40 | -0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.37 | 0.52 | -0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.29 | 0.10 | +0.18 |
Correlation
The correlation between EWA and EWJ is 0.51, 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
EWA vs. EWJ - Dividend Comparison
EWA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.99%, less than EWJ's 4.22% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EWA iShares MSCI-Australia ETF | 2.99% | 3.21% | 3.71% | 3.72% | 5.28% | 5.08% | 2.02% | 3.97% | 6.11% | 4.44% | 4.03% | 5.48% |
EWJ iShares MSCI Japan ETF | 4.22% | 4.52% | 2.34% | 2.03% | 1.23% | 2.08% | 1.04% | 2.03% | 1.71% | 1.25% | 1.95% | 1.27% |
Drawdowns
EWA vs. EWJ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum EWA drawdown since its inception was -66.98%, which is greater than EWJ's maximum drawdown of -60.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EWA and EWJ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| EWA | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -66.98% | -60.93% | -6.05% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.85% | -13.59% | +0.74% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.87% | -33.14% | +8.27% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.54% | -33.14% | -12.40% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -6.86% | -7.97% | +1.11% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.38% | -21.84% | +10.46% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.50% | 3.68% | -0.18% |
Volatility
EWA vs. EWJ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI-Australia ETF (EWA) is 8.40%, while iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) has a volatility of 9.02%. This indicates that EWA 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
| EWA | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.40% | 9.02% | -0.62% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.99% | 15.04% | -2.05% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.16% | 21.96% | -0.80% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.62% | 18.12% | +1.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 22.61% | 17.32% | +5.29% |