EWJ vs EWY

Comparison between ISHARES MSCI JAPAN ETF (EWJ, ETF) and ISHARES MSCI SOUTH KOREA ETF (EWY, ETF).

5-Year PerformanceEWY has outperformed EWJ, delivering a return of +17.6% compared to +9.7%

EWJ vs EWY - Performance Comparison

Log

Key Characteristics

Financial metrics and valuation ratios

Metric	EWJ(ETF)	EWY(ETF)
Net Assets	$21B	$21B
Expense Ratio	0.49%	0.59%
Max Drawdown	62.18%	74.59%
Sharpe Ratio	1.39	3.04
5Y Beta	0.86	1.14
5Y Dividends CAGR	27.21%	11.47%

Net Assets

EWJ

$21B

EWY

$21B

Expense Ratio

Winner

EWJ

0.49%

EWY

0.59%

Max Drawdown

Winner

EWJ

62.18%

EWY

74.59%

Sharpe Ratio

EWJ

1.39

Winner

EWY

3.04

5Y Beta

Winner

EWJ

0.86

EWY

1.14

5Y Dividends CAGR

Winner

EWJ

27.21%

EWY

11.47%

EWJ vs EWY - Historical Returns

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

Period	EWJ	EWY
1 month	+4.20%	+26.39%
3 months	-1.40%	+36.47%
6 months	+13.29%	+90.33%
1 year	+32.31%	+214.54%
5 years(CAGR)	+9.71%	+17.60%
10 years(CAGR)	+9.20%	+15.61%
Max(CAGR)	+3.21%	+10.25%

EWJ

+4.20%

Winner

EWY

+26.39%

EWJ

-1.40%

Winner

EWY

+36.47%

EWJ

+13.29%

Winner

EWY

+90.33%

EWJ

+32.31%

Winner

EWY

+214.54%

5Y(CAGR)

EWJ

+9.71%

Winner

EWY

+17.60%

10Y(CAGR)

EWJ

+9.20%

Winner

EWY

+15.61%

Max(CAGR)

EWJ

+3.21%

Winner

EWY

+10.25%

EWJ vs EWY - Annual Returns (1999 - 2026)

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

Year	EWJ	EWY
2026	+13.19%	+74.62%
2025	+26.06%	+94.51%
2024	+8.03%	-19.49%
2023	+19.75%	+21.31%
2022	-17.81%	-26.59%
2021	+2.38%	-9.94%
2020	+14.21%	+39.48%
2019	+18.51%	+9.42%
2018	-14.61%	-21.37%
2017	+23.26%	+42.82%
2016	+4.41%	+11.04%
2015	+8.97%	-7.06%
2014	-4.66%	-9.22%
2013	+22.93%	+0.96%
2012	+7.10%	+17.42%
2011	-15.57%	-14.35%
2010	+10.75%	+25.06%
2009	+2.60%	+65.55%
2008	-26.64%	-54.47%
2007	-5.43%	+33.51%
2006	+2.59%	+7.16%
2005	+25.83%	+56.02%
2004	+13.03%	+14.22%
2003	+36.18%	+34.61%
2002	-10.32%	-0.43%
2001	-29.91%	+43.43%
2000	-29.46%	-37.79%
1999	+12.29%	N/A

EWJ vs EWY Drawdown Comparison

The maximum drawdown for EWJ was -60.95%, occurring on Apr 25, 2003. Recovery took 4319 trading sessions.

The maximum drawdown for EWY was -74.15%, occurring on Nov 20, 2008. Recovery took 2400 trading sessions.

The current EWJ drawdown is -2.03%. The current EWY drawdown is -7.44%.

Rank	EWJ	EWY
#1	-60.95% Mar 31, 2000 - Jun 2, 2017	-74.15% Oct 31, 2007 - May 15, 2017
#2	-33.13% Sep 15, 2021 - Mar 6, 2024	-50.79% Jun 9, 2000 - Mar 6, 2002
#3	-30.69% Jan 26, 2018 - Nov 9, 2020	-49.72% Jan 8, 2021 - Oct 20, 2025
#4	-14.67% Sep 26, 2024 - Apr 29, 2025	-48.95% Jan 26, 2018 - Nov 24, 2020
#5	-13.59% Feb 11, 2026 - Mar 20, 2026	-38.19% Apr 23, 2002 - Oct 13, 2003
#6	-13.00% Dec 31, 1999 - Mar 31, 2000	-27.95% Apr 12, 2004 - Jan 18, 2005
#7	-12.21% Jul 16, 2024 - Aug 23, 2024	-23.18% May 8, 2006 - Apr 3, 2007
#8	-8.95% Feb 16, 2021 - Sep 3, 2021	-23.08% Feb 27, 2026 - Apr 17, 2026
#9	-7.43% Mar 21, 2024 - Jul 12, 2024	-18.90% Jul 23, 2007 - Oct 1, 2007
#10	-5.90% Oct 6, 2025 - Oct 20, 2025	-14.49% May 16, 2000 - Jun 2, 2000
#11	-5.75% Nov 12, 2025 - Dec 15, 2025	-12.22% Mar 1, 2005 - Jul 19, 2005
#12	-5.39% Aug 30, 2024 - Sep 26, 2024	-12.16% Nov 3, 2025 - Dec 29, 2025
#13	-5.14% Nov 26, 1999 - Dec 23, 1999	-10.33% Apr 5, 2002 - Apr 17, 2002
#14	-4.77% Jun 27, 2025 - Jul 23, 2025	-10.08% Jan 31, 2006 - Apr 4, 2006
#15	-4.19% Jan 14, 2021 - Feb 8, 2021	-10.08% Sep 29, 2005 - Nov 11, 2005

Correlation

Correlation between EWJ and EWY is 0.86 which considered as a strong positive correlation - the stocks tend to move together.

0.86

-101

Dividend Comparison (1999 - 2025)

EWJ vs EWY dividend yield comparison.

Year	EWJ	EWY
2025	4.52%	2.10%
2024	2.34%	2.55%
2023	2.03%	2.52%
2022	1.23%	1.23%
2021	2.08%	2.16%
2020	1.04%	0.73%
2019	2.03%	2.10%
2018	1.71%	1.34%
2017	1.25%	2.90%
2016	1.95%	1.21%
2015	1.27%	2.42%
2014	1.32%	1.20%
2013	1.11%	1.39%
2012	1.94%	0.58%
2011	2.13%	1.34%
2010	1.30%	0.72%
2009	1.42%	0.66%
2008	1.40%	2.86%
2007	1.04%	0.57%
2006	0.70%	0.68%
2005	0.43%	0.58%
2004	0.39%	0.34%
2003	0.02%	0.94%
2001	0.00%	0.59%
2000	4.08%	0.00%
1999	0.67%	0.00%