EWJ vs IVV
iShares MSCI Japan ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, EWJ or IVV?
Each has led over a different period.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. EWJ led over 1Y, IVV over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EWJ is less concentrated, with 30.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | EWJ | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $22.6B | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.72% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 173 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +19.93%Best | +11.03% |
| 1Y Return | +24.38%Best | +15.62% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.82% | +20.81%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.12% | +12.61%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -61.5% | -56.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,775 | $18,109Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.1%Best | 37.8% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 12, 1996 | May 15, 2000 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2000 to Sep 16, 2026 (26.3 years).
EWJ vs IVV growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 26.3 years both funds cover.
EWJ vs IVV Performance
iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year EWJ returned +24.38% while IVV returned +15.62%. Year to date, EWJ is up 19.93% versus a gain of 11.03% for IVV.
Over three years, EWJ compounded at +18.82% per year against +20.81% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +8.12% and +12.61% respectively. Across the full 26-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +6.92% annualized vs +2.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 15.1% for IVV. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -61.5% for EWJ and -56.5% for IVV. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWJ charges 0.49% per year while IVV charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EWJ currently yields 3.72% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings EWJ also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 168 positions we hold weights for in EWJ and 490 in IVV, against full books of 173 and 508.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 481 positions for IVV that do not appear in our book for EWJ (98.5% of the fund), and 0 for EWJ that do not appear in IVV (0.0%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EWJ | Weight in IVV | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| XTSLABlackrock Cash Funds: Treasury, Sl Agency Shares | 0.03% | 0.15% | 0.12% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EWJ and IVV you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, EWJ or IVV?
EWJ has an expense ratio of 0.49% while IVV charges 0.03%. IVV is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EWJ or IVV?
Over the past year EWJ returned +24.38% vs +15.62% for IVV, so EWJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (26 years), EWJ annualized +2.46% vs +6.92% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWJ or IVV?
EWJ has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 15.1% for IVV. Worst drawdown: EWJ -61.5% vs IVV -56.5%.
Should I hold both EWJ and IVV?
EWJ and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, EWJ or IVV?
EWJ yields 3.72% while IVV yields 1.06%, so EWJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than EWJ?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. EWJ led over 1Y, IVV over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EWJ is less concentrated, with 30.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.