VUKG.L vs. SJPA.L

Last updated Jun 13, 2026

VUKG.L (Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (GBP) Accumulating) and SJPA.L (iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VUKG.L is a Europe Equities fund tracking the FTSE AllSh TR GBP, while SJPA.L is a Japan Equities fund tracking the TOPIX TR JPY. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VUKG.L returned 15.34%/yr vs 9.85%/yr for SJPA.L. A 0.51 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VUKG.L charges 0.09%/yr vs 0.15%/yr for SJPA.L.

Performance

VUKG.L vs. SJPA.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (GBP) Accumulating (VUKG.L) and iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF (SJPA.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

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

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VUKG.L achieves a 6.61% return, which is significantly lower than SJPA.L's 15.47% return.

VUKG.L

• 1D: 1.55%
• 1M: 1.75%
• YTD: 6.61%
• 6M: 9.80%
• 1Y: 21.15%
• 3Y*: 18.02%
• 5Y*: 15.34%
• 10Y*: —

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%

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

VUKG.L vs. SJPA.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
VUKG.L Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (GBP) Accumulating	6.61%	27.30%	13.56%	11.46%	9.82%	22.31%	-8.50%	9.90%
SJPA.L iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF	15.47%	18.19%	8.36%	12.76%	-6.21%	1.62%	11.03%	12.15%

Correlation

The correlation between VUKG.L and SJPA.L is 0.46, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.46
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.44
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.43
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 14, 2019	0.51

The correlation between VUKG.L and SJPA.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.43 to 0.51 - a consistent structural relationship.

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

Sectors	VUKG.L	SJPA.L
Financial Services	24.5%	15.9%
Consumer Defensive	13.9%	4.1%
Industrials	13.7%	25.6%
Healthcare	13.6%	5.5%
Energy	11.7%	0.9%
Basic Materials	8.5%	4.6%
Utilities	5.3%	1.2%
Consumer Cyclical	4.7%	12.5%
Communication Services	2.6%	7.6%
Real Estate	0.9%	3.1%
Technology	0.8%	19.1%

Return for Risk

VUKG.L vs. SJPA.L — Risk / Return Rank

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

VUKG.L

VUKG.L Risk / Return Rank: 63
VUKG.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 68
VUKG.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 69
VUKG.L Omega Ratio Rank: 71
VUKG.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 55
VUKG.L Martin Ratio Rank: 52

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

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.

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

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (GBP) Accumulating (VUKG.L) and iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF (SJPA.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.

	VUKG.L	SJPA.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.93	1.82	+0.11
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.71	2.62	+0.09
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.36	1.35	+0.02
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.41	3.04	-0.63
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	7.72	9.86	-2.13

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

The current VUKG.L Sharpe Ratio is 1.93, which is comparable to the SJPA.L Sharpe Ratio of 1.82. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VUKG.L and SJPA.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

VUKG.L vs. SJPA.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VUKG.L drawdown since its inception was -34.32%, smaller than the maximum SJPA.L drawdown of -45.53%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VUKG.L and SJPA.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	VUKG.L	SJPA.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-34.32%	-45.53%	+11.21%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.74%	-10.71%	+1.97%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-12.23%	-19.68%	+7.45%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-12.23%	-19.68%	+7.45%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-24.73%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-3.21%	-0.82%	-2.39%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-3.97%	-15.72%	+11.75%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.73%	3.31%	-0.58%

Volatility

VUKG.L vs. SJPA.L - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (GBP) Accumulating (VUKG.L) is 3.52%, while iShares Core MSCI Japan IMI UCITS ETF (SJPA.L) has a volatility of 4.41%. This indicates that VUKG.L experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SJPA.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VUKG.L	SJPA.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	3.52%	4.41%	-0.89%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	9.56%	14.72%	-5.16%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	10.93%	17.89%	-6.96%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	12.88%	20.67%	-7.79%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.22%	18.47%	-2.25%

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

VUKG.L has a 0.09% expense ratio, which is lower than SJPA.L's 0.15% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VUKG.L vs. SJPA.L - Dividend Comparison

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

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
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%
VUKG.L Vanguard FTSE 100 UCITS ETF (GBP) Accumulating	0.00%	0.79%	3.67%	3.71%	3.84%	3.84%	3.06%	1.92%

Frequently Asked Questions

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

VUKG.L and SJPA.L have a correlation of 0.46, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, VUKG.L or SJPA.L?

On fees, VUKG.L is cheaper at 0.09% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, VUKG.L or SJPA.L?

VUKG.L is cheaper with a 0.09% expense ratio, compared with 0.15% for SJPA.L.

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

VUKG.L is categorized as Europe Equities, while SJPA.L is Japan Equities. VUKG.L tracks FTSE AllSh TR GBP, while SJPA.L tracks TOPIX TR JPY. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.09% for VUKG.L and 0.15% for SJPA.L.