VJPA.L vs. IJPA.L

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

VJPA.L (Vanguard FTSE Japan UCITS ETF USD Acc) and IJPA.L (iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF USD Acc) are both Japan Equities funds - VJPA.L tracks the FTSE Japan Index while IJPA.L tracks the MSCI Japan Investable Market Index (IMI). Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VJPA.L returned 8.91%/yr vs 8.86%/yr for IJPA.L. With a 0.99 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. VJPA.L charges 0.15%/yr vs 0.12%/yr for IJPA.L.

Performance

VJPA.L vs. IJPA.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE Japan UCITS ETF USD Acc (VJPA.L) and iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF USD Acc (IJPA.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with VJPA.L having a 15.94% return and IJPA.L slightly lower at 15.68%.

VJPA.L

• 1D: -0.19%
• 1M: 5.33%
• YTD: 15.94%
• 6M: 16.46%
• 1Y: 32.80%
• 3Y*: 18.65%
• 5Y*: 8.91%
• 10Y*: —

IJPA.L

• 1D: -0.05%
• 1M: 5.18%
• YTD: 15.68%
• 6M: 16.60%
• 1Y: 32.47%
• 3Y*: 18.69%
• 5Y*: 8.86%
• 10Y*: 9.30%

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

VJPA.L vs. IJPA.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
VJPA.L Vanguard FTSE Japan UCITS ETF USD Acc	15.94%	26.79%	6.72%	20.04%	-16.20%	0.35%	16.08%	4.51%
IJPA.L iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF USD Acc	15.68%	27.28%	6.62%	19.34%	-16.16%	0.16%	14.98%	4.65%

Correlation

The correlation between VJPA.L and IJPA.L is 0.99 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.99
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.99
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.99
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Sep 27, 2019	0.99

The correlation between VJPA.L and IJPA.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.99 to 0.99 - a consistent structural relationship.

VJPA.L vs. IJPA.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VJPA.L	IJPA.L
Industrials	26.6%	25.2%
Technology	17.4%	19.8%
Financial Services	15.9%	15.7%
Consumer Cyclical	12.8%	12.2%
Communication Services	7.1%	5.7%
Healthcare	5.9%	5.8%
Basic Materials	4.3%	5.1%
Consumer Defensive	4.2%	4.0%
Real Estate	3.4%	3.0%
Utilities	1.3%	1.2%
Energy	1.0%	0.9%

Return for Risk

VJPA.L vs. IJPA.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

VJPA.L

VJPA.L Risk / Return Rank: 51
VJPA.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 48
VJPA.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 52
VJPA.L Omega Ratio Rank: 51
VJPA.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 54
VJPA.L Martin Ratio Rank: 52

IJPA.L

IJPA.L Risk / Return Rank: 51
IJPA.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 47
IJPA.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 51
IJPA.L Omega Ratio Rank: 51
IJPA.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 55
IJPA.L Martin Ratio Rank: 52

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.

VJPA.L vs. IJPA.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Japan UCITS ETF USD Acc (VJPA.L) and iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF USD Acc (IJPA.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.

	VJPA.L	IJPA.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.64	1.63	+0.01
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.47	2.45	+0.02
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.31	1.31	0.00
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.65	2.66	-0.01
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	8.77	8.86	-0.09
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VJPA.L vs. IJPA.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VJPA.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.64, which is comparable to the IJPA.L Sharpe Ratio of 1.63. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VJPA.L and IJPA.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.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VJPA.L	IJPA.L	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.64	1.63	+0.01
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.50	0.50	0.00
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.55	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.55	0.46	+0.09

Drawdowns

VJPA.L vs. IJPA.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VJPA.L drawdown since its inception was -32.06%, roughly equal to the maximum IJPA.L drawdown of -32.47%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VJPA.L and IJPA.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	VJPA.L	IJPA.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-32.06%	-32.47%	+0.41%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-12.33%	-12.15%	-0.18%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.01%	-13.96%	-0.05%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-32.06%	-32.47%	+0.41%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-32.47%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-0.19%	-0.05%	-0.14%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-8.40%	-8.06%	-0.34%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.73%	3.66%	+0.07%

Volatility

VJPA.L vs. IJPA.L - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard FTSE Japan UCITS ETF USD Acc (VJPA.L) and iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF USD Acc (IJPA.L) have volatilities of 4.47% and 4.48%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VJPA.L	IJPA.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.47%	4.48%	-0.01%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	16.32%	16.36%	-0.04%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	19.95%	19.88%	+0.07%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	17.69%	17.60%	+0.09%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	18.75%	16.86%	+1.89%

VJPA.L vs. IJPA.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

VJPA.L has a 0.15% expense ratio, which is higher than IJPA.L's 0.12% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VJPA.L vs. IJPA.L - Dividend Comparison

Neither VJPA.L nor IJPA.L has paid dividends to shareholders.

Tickers have no history of dividend payments

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VJPA.L and IJPA.L in my portfolio?

With a correlation of 0.99, VJPA.L and IJPA.L move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

Which ETF is better, VJPA.L or IJPA.L?

On fees, IJPA.L is cheaper at 0.12% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, VJPA.L or IJPA.L?

IJPA.L is cheaper with a 0.12% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for VJPA.L.

What is the main difference between VJPA.L and IJPA.L?

VJPA.L tracks FTSE Japan Index, while IJPA.L tracks MSCI Japan Investable Market Index (IMI). They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.15% for VJPA.L and 0.12% for IJPA.L.