FJP vs. EWJ
Compare and contrast key facts about First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund (FJP) and iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ).
FJP and EWJ are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. FJP is a passively managed fund by First Trust that tracks the performance of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Japan Index. It was launched on Apr 18, 2011. 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 FJP 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
FJP vs. EWJ - Performance Comparison
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FJP vs. EWJ - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FJP First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund | 8.24% | 33.60% | 5.80% | 23.00% | -12.83% | -1.13% | 3.60% | 7.72% | -18.60% | 27.63% |
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, FJP achieves a 8.24% return, which is significantly higher than EWJ's 4.58% return. Over the past 10 years, FJP has underperformed EWJ with an annualized return of 7.51%, while EWJ has yielded a comparatively higher 8.78% annualized return.
FJP
- 1D
- 2.19%
- 1M
- -11.26%
- YTD
- 8.24%
- 6M
- 13.78%
- 1Y
- 36.33%
- 3Y*
- 20.73%
- 5Y*
- 9.22%
- 10Y*
- 7.51%
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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FJP vs. EWJ - Expense Ratio Comparison
FJP has a 0.80% expense ratio, which is higher than EWJ's 0.49% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
FJP vs. EWJ — Risk / Return Rank
FJP
EWJ
FJP vs. EWJ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund (FJP) 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.
| FJP | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.64 | 1.32 | +0.32 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.18 | 1.92 | +0.26 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.30 | 1.26 | +0.04 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.51 | 2.03 | +0.48 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.35 | 7.50 | +1.84 |
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
| FJP | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.64 | 1.32 | +0.32 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.46 | 0.37 | +0.10 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.40 | 0.51 | -0.11 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.31 | 0.10 | +0.21 |
Correlation
The correlation between FJP and EWJ is 0.82, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
FJP vs. EWJ - Dividend Comparison
FJP's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.63%, less than EWJ's 4.33% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FJP First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund | 2.63% | 2.68% | 3.18% | 3.49% | 2.21% | 2.43% | 0.99% | 2.80% | 1.54% | 1.29% | 1.46% | 0.85% |
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
FJP vs. EWJ - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum FJP drawdown since its inception was -41.51%, smaller than the maximum EWJ drawdown of -60.93%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for FJP and EWJ.
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Drawdown Indicators
| FJP | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -41.51% | -60.93% | +19.42% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -14.43% | -13.59% | -0.84% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -31.88% | -33.14% | +1.26% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -41.51% | -33.14% | -8.37% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -11.29% | -10.14% | -1.15% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.51% | -21.84% | +10.33% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.88% | 3.68% | +0.20% |
Volatility
FJP vs. EWJ - Volatility Comparison
First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund (FJP) and iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) have volatilities of 9.09% and 9.41%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| FJP | EWJ | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 9.09% | 9.41% | -0.32% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.45% | 14.87% | -0.42% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 22.21% | 21.87% | +0.34% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.98% | 18.10% | +1.88% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.75% | 17.31% | +1.44% |