HEWJ vs. EWT
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) and iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (EWT).
HEWJ and EWT are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. HEWJ is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Japan 100% Hedged to USD Index. It was launched on Jan 31, 2014. EWT is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Taiwan Index. It was launched on Jun 20, 2000. Both HEWJ and EWT 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
HEWJ vs. EWT - Performance Comparison
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HEWJ vs. EWT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HEWJ iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF | 9.72% | 30.25% | 24.80% | 36.21% | -4.39% | 12.79% | 10.29% | 20.79% | -14.68% | 21.47% |
EWT iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 12.89% | 28.38% | 16.11% | 23.97% | -28.90% | 26.18% | 31.50% | 33.36% | -9.90% | 26.81% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, HEWJ achieves a 9.72% return, which is significantly lower than EWT's 12.89% return. Both investments have delivered pretty close results over the past 10 years, with HEWJ having a 15.43% annualized return and EWT not far behind at 15.12%.
HEWJ
- 1D
- 2.74%
- 1M
- -2.87%
- YTD
- 9.72%
- 6M
- 23.14%
- 1Y
- 46.23%
- 3Y*
- 30.07%
- 5Y*
- 19.05%
- 10Y*
- 15.43%
EWT
- 1D
- 1.13%
- 1M
- -4.46%
- YTD
- 12.89%
- 6M
- 16.96%
- 1Y
- 55.63%
- 3Y*
- 22.72%
- 5Y*
- 10.50%
- 10Y*
- 15.12%
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HEWJ vs. EWT - Expense Ratio Comparison
HEWJ has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is lower than EWT's 0.59% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
HEWJ vs. EWT — Risk / Return Rank
HEWJ
EWT
HEWJ vs. EWT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) and iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (EWT). 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.
| HEWJ | EWT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.94 | 2.08 | -0.15 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.63 | 2.78 | -0.15 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.39 | 1.38 | +0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 3.77 | 3.73 | +0.04 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 14.33 | 14.90 | -0.57 |
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
| HEWJ | EWT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.94 | 2.08 | -0.15 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 1.01 | 0.47 | +0.53 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.77 | 0.71 | +0.06 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.66 | 0.20 | +0.46 |
Correlation
The correlation between HEWJ and EWT is 0.52, 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
HEWJ vs. EWT - Dividend Comparison
HEWJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.65%, more than EWT's 3.93% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HEWJ iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF | 4.65% | 5.10% | 2.20% | 2.02% | 47.68% | 2.03% | 1.20% | 2.78% | 1.37% | 1.21% | 1.88% | 3.25% |
EWT iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF | 3.93% | 4.43% | 3.32% | 8.12% | 18.82% | 0.55% | 1.83% | 2.49% | 3.16% | 2.81% | 2.39% | 3.12% |
Drawdowns
HEWJ vs. EWT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum HEWJ drawdown since its inception was -31.53%, smaller than the maximum EWT drawdown of -64.37%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HEWJ and EWT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| HEWJ | EWT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -31.53% | -64.37% | +32.84% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.99% | -15.53% | +3.54% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -20.90% | -38.88% | +17.98% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -31.53% | -38.88% | +7.35% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.49% | -6.93% | +2.44% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.68% | -19.35% | +12.67% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.16% | 3.89% | -0.73% |
Volatility
HEWJ vs. EWT - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) is 7.97%, while iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (EWT) has a volatility of 9.80%. This indicates that HEWJ experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EWT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| HEWJ | EWT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.97% | 9.80% | -1.83% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.91% | 18.16% | -3.25% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 23.99% | 26.86% | -2.87% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 19.02% | 22.32% | -3.30% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.00% | 21.22% | -1.22% |