EWD vs. EWJ
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI Sweden ETF (EWD) and iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ).
EWD and EWJ are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. EWD is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Sweden Index. It was launched on Mar 12, 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 EWD 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
EWD vs. EWJ - Performance Comparison
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EWD vs. EWJ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EWD iShares MSCI Sweden ETF | -1.04% | 36.55% | -3.90% | 25.07% | -27.84% | 22.84% | 22.27% | 21.74% | -12.78% | 21.86% |
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, EWD achieves a -1.04% return, which is significantly lower than EWJ's 4.58% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with EWD having a 8.72% annualized return and EWJ not far ahead at 8.78%.
EWD
- 1D
- 3.59%
- 1M
- -10.96%
- YTD
- -1.04%
- 6M
- 4.50%
- 1Y
- 19.88%
- 3Y*
- 13.89%
- 5Y*
- 4.83%
- 10Y*
- 8.72%
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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EWD vs. EWJ - Expense Ratio Comparison
EWD has a 0.55% expense ratio, which is higher than EWJ's 0.49% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
EWD vs. EWJ — Risk / Return Rank
EWD
EWJ
EWD vs. EWJ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI Sweden ETF (EWD) 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.
| EWD | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 0.94 | 1.32 | -0.39 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 1.39 | 1.92 | -0.53 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.18 | 1.26 | -0.08 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.21 | 2.03 | -0.82 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 4.64 | 7.50 | -2.87 |
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
| EWD | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.94 | 1.32 | -0.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.20 | 0.37 | -0.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.37 | 0.51 | -0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.27 | 0.10 | +0.17 |
Correlation
The correlation between EWD 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
EWD vs. EWJ - Dividend Comparison
EWD's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.31%, less than EWJ's 4.33% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EWD iShares MSCI Sweden ETF | 3.31% | 3.27% | 1.77% | 2.41% | 3.68% | 5.46% | 0.98% | 4.15% | 5.17% | 3.23% | 3.91% | 4.08% |
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
EWD vs. EWJ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum EWD drawdown since its inception was -75.40%, which is greater than EWJ's maximum drawdown of -60.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EWD and EWJ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| EWD | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -75.40% | -60.93% | -14.47% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.49% | -13.59% | -0.90% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -42.33% | -33.14% | -9.19% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -42.33% | -33.14% | -9.19% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -10.96% | -10.14% | -0.82% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -19.30% | -21.84% | +2.54% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.77% | 3.68% | +0.09% |
Volatility
EWD vs. EWJ - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI Sweden ETF (EWD) is 8.86%, while iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) has a volatility of 9.41%. This indicates that EWD 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
| EWD | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 8.86% | 9.41% | -0.55% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.68% | 14.87% | -1.19% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 21.43% | 21.87% | -0.44% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 23.80% | 18.10% | +5.70% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 23.37% | 17.31% | +6.06% |