IMSU.L vs. SJPA.L

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

IMSU.L (iShares S&P 500 Materials Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc)) and SJPA.L (iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IMSU.L is a Materials fund tracking the MSCI World/Materials NR USD, while SJPA.L is a Japan Equities fund tracking the TOPIX TR JPY. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, IMSU.L returned 6.55%/yr vs 9.85%/yr for SJPA.L. A 0.51 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.15% expense ratio.

Performance

IMSU.L vs. SJPA.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in iShares S&P 500 Materials Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (IMSU.L) and iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF (SJPA.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IMSU.L achieves a 13.42% return, which is significantly lower than SJPA.L's 15.47% return.

IMSU.L

• 1D: 3.01%
• 1M: 0.18%
• YTD: 13.42%
• 6M: 14.88%
• 1Y: 20.12%
• 3Y*: 7.91%
• 5Y*: 6.55%
• 10Y*: —

SJPA.L

• 1D: 2.26%
• 1M: 0.53%
• YTD: 15.47%
• 6M: 14.66%
• 1Y: 32.71%
• 3Y*: 14.56%
• 5Y*: 9.85%
• 10Y*: 10.26%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IMSU.L vs. SJPA.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
IMSU.L iShares S&P 500 Materials Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc)	13.42%	3.37%	0.69%	6.26%	-1.35%	28.63%	16.34%	19.09%	-9.88%	-12.89%
SJPA.L iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF	15.47%	18.19%	8.36%	12.76%	-6.21%	1.62%	11.03%	14.68%	-9.15%	9.88%

Correlation

The correlation between IMSU.L and SJPA.L is 0.43, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.43
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.40
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.43
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 22, 2017	0.51

The correlation between IMSU.L and SJPA.L shifts across timeframes, from 0.40 (3 years) to 0.51 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

IMSU.L vs. SJPA.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	IMSU.L	SJPA.L
Basic Materials	91.4%	4.6%
Consumer Cyclical	8.6%	12.5%
Communication Services	-	7.6%
Consumer Defensive	-	4.1%
Energy	-	0.9%
Financial Services	-	15.9%
Healthcare	-	5.5%
Industrials	-	25.6%
Real Estate	-	3.1%
Technology	-	19.1%
Utilities	-	1.2%

Return for Risk

IMSU.L vs. SJPA.L — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

IMSU.L

IMSU.L Risk / Return Rank: 41
IMSU.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 42
IMSU.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 42
IMSU.L Omega Ratio Rank: 39
IMSU.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 42
IMSU.L Martin Ratio Rank: 42

SJPA.L

SJPA.L Risk / Return Rank: 65
SJPA.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 63
SJPA.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 65
SJPA.L Omega Ratio Rank: 67
SJPA.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 69
SJPA.L Martin Ratio Rank: 63

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

IMSU.L vs. SJPA.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares S&P 500 Materials Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (IMSU.L) and iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF (SJPA.L). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

	IMSU.L	SJPA.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.33	1.82	-0.50
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	1.94	2.62	-0.68
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.23	1.35	-0.12
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	1.86	3.04	-1.18
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	6.07	9.86	-3.79

IMSU.L vs. SJPA.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IMSU.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.33, which is comparable to the SJPA.L Sharpe Ratio of 1.82. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IMSU.L and SJPA.L, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Drawdowns

IMSU.L vs. SJPA.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IMSU.L drawdown since its inception was -33.22%, smaller than the maximum SJPA.L drawdown of -45.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IMSU.L and SJPA.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	IMSU.L	SJPA.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-33.22%	-45.53%	+12.31%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.76%	-10.71%	-0.05%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-25.16%	-19.68%	-5.48%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-25.16%	-19.68%	-5.48%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-24.73%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-2.70%	-0.82%	-1.88%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-11.19%	-15.72%	+4.53%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.31%	3.31%	0.00%

Volatility

IMSU.L vs. SJPA.L - Volatility Comparison

iShares S&P 500 Materials Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (IMSU.L) has a higher volatility of 5.66% compared to iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF (SJPA.L) at 4.41%. This indicates that IMSU.L's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SJPA.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	IMSU.L	SJPA.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.66%	4.41%	+1.25%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.26%	14.72%	-2.46%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	15.12%	17.89%	-2.77%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	21.54%	20.67%	+0.87%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	24.98%	18.47%	+6.51%

IMSU.L vs. SJPA.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both IMSU.L and SJPA.L have an expense ratio of 0.15%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

IMSU.L vs. SJPA.L - Dividend Comparison

Neither IMSU.L nor SJPA.L has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both IMSU.L and SJPA.L in my portfolio?

IMSU.L and SJPA.L have a correlation of 0.43, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, IMSU.L or SJPA.L?

Both ETFs have the same 0.15% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, IMSU.L or SJPA.L?

IMSU.L and SJPA.L have the same expense ratio: 0.15% per year.

What is the main difference between IMSU.L and SJPA.L?

IMSU.L is categorized as Materials, while SJPA.L is Japan Equities. IMSU.L tracks MSCI World/Materials NR USD, while SJPA.L tracks TOPIX TR JPY.