HEWJ vs. HEFA
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) and iShares Currency Hedged MSCI EAFE ETF (HEFA).
HEWJ and HEFA 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. HEFA is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI EAFE 100% Hedged to USD Index. It was launched on Jan 31, 2014. Both HEWJ and HEFA are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: HEWJ or HEFA.
Key characteristics
| HEWJ | HEFA | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 18.82% | 10.06% |
| 1Y Return | 43.08% | 18.44% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 18.14% | 11.06% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 15.74% | 10.66% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 12.03% | 9.17% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 2.96 | 2.03 |
| Daily Std Dev | 15.44% | 9.84% |
| Max Drawdown | -31.53% | -32.39% |
| Current Drawdown | -2.08% | -0.63% |
Correlation
The correlation between HEWJ and HEFA is 0.83, 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.
Performance
HEWJ vs. HEFA - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, HEWJ achieves a 18.82% return, which is significantly higher than HEFA's 10.06% return. Over the past 10 years, HEWJ has outperformed HEFA with an annualized return of 12.03%, while HEFA has yielded a comparatively lower 9.17% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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HEWJ vs. HEFA - Expense Ratio Comparison
HEWJ has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is higher than HEFA's 0.35% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
HEWJ vs. HEFA - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) and iShares Currency Hedged MSCI EAFE ETF (HEFA). 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.
Dividends
HEWJ vs. HEFA - Dividend Comparison
HEWJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.70%, less than HEFA's 2.74% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HEWJ iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF | 1.70% | 2.02% | 47.68% | 2.03% | 1.20% | 2.77% | 1.37% | 1.21% | 1.88% | 3.25% | 2.15% |
HEFA iShares Currency Hedged MSCI EAFE ETF | 2.74% | 3.02% | 25.14% | 3.06% | 2.10% | 5.37% | 4.59% | 2.55% | 3.17% | 3.54% | 3.39% |
Drawdowns
HEWJ vs. HEFA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum HEWJ drawdown since its inception was -31.53%, roughly equal to the maximum HEFA drawdown of -32.39%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for HEWJ and HEFA. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
HEWJ vs. HEFA - Volatility Comparison
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) has a higher volatility of 4.76% compared to iShares Currency Hedged MSCI EAFE ETF (HEFA) at 2.88%. This indicates that HEWJ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than HEFA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.