EWY vs EWJ

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

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

EWY vs EWJ - Performance Comparison

Log

Key Characteristics

Financial metrics and valuation ratios

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

Net Assets

EWY

$21B

EWJ

$21B

Expense Ratio

EWY

0.59%

Winner

EWJ

0.49%

Max Drawdown

EWY

74.59%

Winner

EWJ

62.18%

Sharpe Ratio

Winner

EWY

3.04

EWJ

1.39

5Y Beta

EWY

1.14

Winner

EWJ

0.86

5Y Dividends CAGR

EWY

11.47%

Winner

EWJ

27.21%

EWY vs EWJ - Historical Returns

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

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

Winner

EWY

+26.39%

EWJ

+4.20%

Winner

EWY

+36.47%

EWJ

-1.40%

Winner

EWY

+90.33%

EWJ

+13.29%

Winner

EWY

+214.54%

EWJ

+32.31%

5Y(CAGR)

Winner

EWY

+17.60%

EWJ

+9.71%

10Y(CAGR)

Winner

EWY

+15.61%

EWJ

+9.20%

Max(CAGR)

Winner

EWY

+10.25%

EWJ

+3.21%

EWY vs EWJ - Annual Returns (1999 - 2026)

Returns include dividend reinvestment.

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

EWY vs EWJ Drawdown Comparison

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

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

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

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

Correlation

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

0.86

-101

Dividend Comparison (1999 - 2025)

EWY vs EWJ dividend yield comparison.

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