JPAN vs. SCJ

Last updated Jun 4, 2026

JPAN (Matthews Japan Active ETF) and SCJ (iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap ETF) are both Japan Equities funds. JPAN is actively managed, while SCJ is passively managed. Over the past year, JPAN returned 30.43% vs 30.15% for SCJ. Their correlation of 0.84 suggests significant overlap in exposure. JPAN charges 0.79%/yr vs 0.49%/yr for SCJ.

Performance

JPAN vs. SCJ - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Matthews Japan Active ETF (JPAN) and iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap ETF (SCJ). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, JPAN achieves a 17.64% return, which is significantly higher than SCJ's 14.35% return.

JPAN

• 1D: 0.52%
• 1M: 7.08%
• YTD: 17.64%
• 6M: 19.06%
• 1Y: 30.43%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

SCJ

• 1D: 0.36%
• 1M: 5.04%
• YTD: 14.35%
• 6M: 16.37%
• 1Y: 30.15%
• 3Y*: 17.70%
• 5Y*: 7.36%
• 10Y*: 7.55%

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

JPAN vs. SCJ - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023
JPAN Matthews Japan Active ETF	17.64%	22.96%	18.16%	5.77%
SCJ iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap ETF	14.35%	29.58%	3.41%	5.31%

Correlation

The correlation between JPAN and SCJ is 0.85, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.85
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 25, 2023	0.84

The correlation between JPAN and SCJ has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.84 to 0.85 - a consistent structural relationship.

JPAN vs. SCJ - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	JPAN	SCJ
Industrials	25.5%	28.9%
Technology	21.7%	11.2%
Financial Services	19.2%	9.7%
Consumer Cyclical	12.4%	14.6%
Communication Services	6.8%	2.9%
Consumer Defensive	3.3%	6.8%
Basic Materials	3.2%	10.1%
Healthcare	2.6%	4.4%
Real Estate	2.2%	8.4%
Energy	0.7%	0.8%
Utilities	-	2.1%

Return for Risk

JPAN vs. SCJ — Risk / Return Rank

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

JPAN

JPAN Risk / Return Rank: 45
JPAN Sharpe Ratio Rank: 45
JPAN Sortino Ratio Rank: 47
JPAN Omega Ratio Rank: 46
JPAN Calmar Ratio Rank: 42
JPAN Martin Ratio Rank: 45

SCJ

SCJ Risk / Return Rank: 53
SCJ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 55
SCJ Sortino Ratio Rank: 55
SCJ Omega Ratio Rank: 54
SCJ Calmar Ratio Rank: 50
SCJ Martin Ratio Rank: 50

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.

JPAN vs. SCJ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Matthews Japan Active ETF (JPAN) and iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap ETF (SCJ). 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.

	JPAN	SCJ	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	1.56	1.88	-0.32
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	2.30	2.67	-0.37
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.29	1.34	-0.05
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.09	2.49	-0.40
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	7.47	8.42	-0.95
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

JPAN vs. SCJ - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current JPAN Sharpe Ratio is 1.56, which is comparable to the SCJ Sharpe Ratio of 1.88. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of JPAN and SCJ, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	JPAN	SCJ	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.56	1.88	-0.32
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.47	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.46	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.29	0.30	+0.98

Drawdowns

JPAN vs. SCJ - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum JPAN drawdown since its inception was -15.24%, smaller than the maximum SCJ drawdown of -43.52%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for JPAN and SCJ.

Drawdown Indicators

	JPAN	SCJ	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-15.24%	-43.52%	+28.28%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-14.59%	-12.17%	-2.42%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-12.43%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-33.25%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-38.87%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	-1.82%	+1.82%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.09%	-10.38%	+7.29%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	4.08%	3.59%	+0.49%

Volatility

JPAN vs. SCJ - Volatility Comparison

Matthews Japan Active ETF (JPAN) has a higher volatility of 4.59% compared to iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap ETF (SCJ) at 4.03%. This indicates that JPAN's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SCJ based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	JPAN	SCJ	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.59%	4.03%	+0.56%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	15.68%	13.13%	+2.55%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.63%	16.11%	+3.52%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.26%	15.81%	+3.45%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	19.26%	16.29%	+2.97%

JPAN vs. SCJ - Expense Ratio Comparison

JPAN has a 0.79% expense ratio, which is higher than SCJ's 0.49% expense ratio.

Dividends

JPAN vs. SCJ - Dividend Comparison

JPAN's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 4.34%, more than SCJ's 2.75% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
JPAN Matthews Japan Active ETF	4.34%	5.10%	1.53%	0.51%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%
SCJ iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap ETF	2.75%	3.14%	1.79%	1.99%	1.18%	1.87%	0.89%	1.85%	1.44%	1.45%	2.73%	1.53%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both JPAN and SCJ in my portfolio?

JPAN and SCJ have a correlation of 0.85, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which is riskier, JPAN or SCJ?

JPAN has higher volatility (4.59%) compared to SCJ (4.03%). In terms of maximum drawdown, JPAN dropped -15.24% vs SCJ's -43.52%.

Which ETF is better, JPAN or SCJ?

On 1-year performance, JPAN leads with 30.43% vs 30.15% for SCJ. On fees, SCJ is cheaper at 0.49% per year. On volatility, SCJ has been the lower-risk option at 4.03%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF has performed better, JPAN or SCJ?

Over the 1-year period, JPAN has performed better with a 30.43% return vs 30.15%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

Which ETF is cheaper, JPAN or SCJ?

SCJ is cheaper with a 0.49% expense ratio, compared with 0.79% for JPAN.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, JPAN or SCJ?

JPAN has the higher dividend yield at 4.34%, compared with 2.75% for SCJ.

What is the main difference between JPAN and SCJ?

They also come from different issuers: Matthews and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.79% for JPAN and 0.49% for SCJ.

Which has better risk-adjusted returns?

SCJ currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.88 vs 1.56), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.