SJPA.L vs. EZA

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

SJPA.L (iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF) and EZA (iShares MSCI South Africa ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SJPA.L is a Japan Equities fund tracking the TOPIX TR JPY, while EZA is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the MSCI South Africa Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SJPA.L returned 10.26%/yr vs 8.68%/yr for EZA. At a 0.33 correlation, their price movements are largely independent. SJPA.L charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.59%/yr for EZA.

Performance

SJPA.L vs. EZA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF (SJPA.L) and iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (EZA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

SJPA.L is traded in GBp, while EZA is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the EZA values have been converted to GBp using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, SJPA.L achieves a 15.47% return, which is significantly higher than EZA's -2.31% return. Over the past 10 years, SJPA.L has outperformed EZA with an annualized return of 10.26%, while EZA has yielded a comparatively lower 8.68% annualized return.

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%

EZA

• 1D: 0.98%
• 1M: -4.68%
• YTD: -2.31%
• 6M: 2.51%
• 1Y: 32.37%
• 3Y*: 20.97%
• 5Y*: 10.64%
• 10Y*: 8.68%

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

SJPA.L vs. EZA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
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%	14.69%
EZA iShares MSCI South Africa ETF	-2.31%	62.72%	9.03%	-3.57%	6.10%	8.93%	-7.97%	5.65%	-20.81%	24.26%

Correlation

The correlation between SJPA.L and EZA is 0.34, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.34
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.26
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.26
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.31
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 25, 2009	0.33

SJPA.L vs. EZA - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	SJPA.L	EZA
Industrials	25.6%	1.5%
Technology	19.1%	-
Financial Services	15.9%	32.1%
Consumer Cyclical	12.5%	14.7%
Communication Services	7.6%	6.7%
Healthcare	5.5%	1.2%
Basic Materials	4.6%	39.7%
Consumer Defensive	4.1%	2.4%
Real Estate	3.1%	1.6%
Utilities	1.2%	-
Energy	0.9%	-

Return for Risk

SJPA.L vs. EZA — Risk / Return Rank

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

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

EZA

EZA Risk / Return Rank: 29
EZA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 30
EZA Sortino Ratio Rank: 28
EZA Omega Ratio Rank: 30
EZA Calmar Ratio Rank: 31
EZA Martin Ratio Rank: 28

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.

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

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF (SJPA.L) and iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (EZA). 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.

	SJPA.L	EZA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.82	1.12	+0.70
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.62	1.59	+1.03
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.35	1.21	+0.14
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.04	1.44	+1.60
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	9.86	3.78	+6.07

SJPA.L vs. EZA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SJPA.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.82, which is higher than the EZA Sharpe Ratio of 1.12. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SJPA.L and EZA, 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

SJPA.L vs. EZA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SJPA.L drawdown since its inception was -45.53%, smaller than the maximum EZA drawdown of -54.38%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SJPA.L and EZA.

Drawdown Indicators

	SJPA.L	EZA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-45.53%	-54.38%	+8.85%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.71%	-22.51%	+11.80%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-19.68%	-22.51%	+2.83%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-19.68%	-28.58%	+8.90%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-24.73%	-53.90%	+29.17%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.82%	-17.58%	+16.76%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-15.72%	-14.35%	-1.37%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.31%	8.59%	-5.28%

Volatility

SJPA.L vs. EZA - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF (SJPA.L) is 4.41%, while iShares MSCI South Africa ETF (EZA) has a volatility of 10.43%. This indicates that SJPA.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EZA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	SJPA.L	EZA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.41%	10.43%	-6.02%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	14.72%	24.70%	-9.98%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	17.89%	29.13%	-11.24%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	20.67%	25.57%	-4.90%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	18.47%	29.10%	-10.63%

SJPA.L vs. EZA - Expense Ratio Comparison

SJPA.L has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is lower than EZA's 0.59% expense ratio.

Dividends

SJPA.L vs. EZA - Dividend Comparison

SJPA.L has not paid dividends to shareholders, while EZA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 6.34%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
EZA iShares MSCI South Africa ETF	6.34%	6.16%	7.26%	2.84%	3.90%	2.05%	5.51%	12.27%	3.81%	1.55%	4.10%	3.03%
SJPA.L iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

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

SJPA.L and EZA have a correlation of 0.34, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, SJPA.L or EZA?

On fees, SJPA.L is cheaper at 0.15% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, SJPA.L or EZA?

SJPA.L is cheaper with a 0.15% expense ratio, compared with 0.59% for EZA.

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

SJPA.L is categorized as Japan Equities, while EZA is Emerging Markets Equities. SJPA.L tracks TOPIX TR JPY, while EZA tracks MSCI South Africa Index. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for SJPA.L and 0.59% for EZA.