SCJ vs. PIT
SCJ (iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap ETF) and PIT (VanEck Commodity Strategy ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SCJ is a Japan Equities fund tracking the MSCI Japan Small Cap Index, while PIT is a Commodities fund actively managed by VanEck. SCJ is passively managed, while PIT is actively managed. Over the past 3 years, SCJ returned 18.07%/yr vs 18.98%/yr for PIT. At a 0.11 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SCJ charges 0.49%/yr vs 0.55%/yr for PIT.
Performance
SCJ vs. PIT - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SCJ achieves a 14.43% return, which is significantly lower than PIT's 25.62% return.
SCJ
- 1D
- -1.98%
- 1M
- 0.36%
- YTD
- 14.43%
- 6M
- 14.21%
- 1Y
- 29.99%
- 3Y*
- 18.07%
- 5Y*
- 7.56%
- 10Y*
- 7.94%
PIT
- 1D
- -1.32%
- 1M
- -11.78%
- YTD
- 25.62%
- 6M
- 23.58%
- 1Y
- 39.64%
- 3Y*
- 18.98%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
SCJ vs. PIT - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCJ iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap ETF | 14.43% | 29.58% | 3.41% | 13.22% | 1.43% |
PIT VanEck Commodity Strategy ETF | 25.62% | 21.63% | 6.77% | -4.54% | 1.67% |
Correlation
The correlation between SCJ and PIT is -0.10, meaning there is essentially no relationship between their price movements. Each responds to its own set of market drivers, making them strong candidates for combining in a diversified portfolio.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.10 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.06 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 22, 2022 | 0.11 |
The correlation between SCJ and PIT shifts across timeframes, from -0.10 (1 year) to 0.11 (all time), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
SCJ vs. PIT — Risk / Return Rank
SCJ
PIT
SCJ vs. PIT - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap ETF (SCJ) and VanEck Commodity Strategy ETF (PIT). 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.
| SCJ | PIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.02 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.17 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.33 | -0.01 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.48 | 2.62 | -0.15 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.30 | 10.88 | -2.58 |
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Drawdowns
SCJ vs. PIT - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SCJ drawdown since its inception was -43.52%, which is greater than PIT's maximum drawdown of -15.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCJ and PIT.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SCJ | PIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -43.52% | -15.19% | -28.33% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -12.17% | -15.19% | +3.02% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.43% | -15.19% | +2.76% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.25% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -38.87% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -1.98% | -15.19% | +13.21% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -10.36% | -4.08% | -6.28% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.62% | 3.66% | -0.04% |
Volatility
SCJ vs. PIT - Volatility Comparison
iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap ETF (SCJ) has a higher volatility of 4.97% compared to VanEck Commodity Strategy ETF (PIT) at 4.72%. This indicates that SCJ's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than PIT based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SCJ | PIT | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.97% | 4.72% | +0.25% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.57% | 19.40% | -5.83% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.49% | 21.66% | -5.17% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.87% | 17.50% | -1.63% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 16.27% | 17.50% | -1.23% |
SCJ vs. PIT - Expense Ratio Comparison
SCJ has a 0.49% expense ratio, which is lower than PIT's 0.55% expense ratio.
Dividends
SCJ vs. PIT - Dividend Comparison
SCJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.80%, less than PIT's 7.10% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PIT VanEck Commodity Strategy ETF | 7.10% | 8.92% | 3.59% | 6.44% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
SCJ iShares MSCI Japan Small Cap ETF | 2.80% | 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
SCJ and PIT have a correlation of -0.10, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
SCJ has higher volatility (4.97%) compared to PIT (4.72%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCJ dropped -43.52% vs PIT's -15.19%.
On 3-year performance, PIT leads with 18.98% vs 18.07% for SCJ. On fees, SCJ is cheaper at 0.49% per year. On volatility, PIT has been the lower-risk option at 4.72%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, PIT has performed better with a 18.98% return vs 18.07%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SCJ is cheaper with a 0.49% expense ratio, compared with 0.55% for PIT.
PIT has the higher dividend yield at 7.10%, compared with 2.80% for SCJ.
SCJ is categorized as Japan Equities, while PIT is Commodities. They also come from different issuers: iShares and VanEck. Their fees differ too: 0.49% for SCJ and 0.55% for PIT.
PIT currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.85 vs 1.83), 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.
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