SJPA.L vs. IMSU.L

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

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

Performance

SJPA.L vs. IMSU.L - 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 S&P 500 Materials Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (IMSU.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

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

IMSU.L

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

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

SJPA.L vs. IMSU.L - 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%	9.88%
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%

Correlation

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

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

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

Return for Risk

SJPA.L vs. IMSU.L — 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

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

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. IMSU.L - 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 S&P 500 Materials Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (IMSU.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.

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

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

The current SJPA.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.82, which is higher than the IMSU.L Sharpe Ratio of 1.33. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SJPA.L and IMSU.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

SJPA.L vs. IMSU.L - Drawdown Comparison

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

Drawdown Indicators

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

Volatility

SJPA.L vs. IMSU.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF (SJPA.L) is 4.41%, while iShares S&P 500 Materials Sector UCITS ETF USD (Acc) (IMSU.L) has a volatility of 5.66%. This indicates that SJPA.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IMSU.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

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

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

Both SJPA.L and IMSU.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

SJPA.L vs. IMSU.L - Dividend Comparison

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

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

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

SJPA.L and IMSU.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, SJPA.L or IMSU.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, SJPA.L or IMSU.L?

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

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

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