EWJ vs VOO
iShares MSCI Japan ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, EWJ or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. EWJ led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EWJ is less concentrated, with 30.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%.
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 | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $22.6B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.72% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 173 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +21.10%Best | +14.14% |
| 1Y Return | +25.76%Best | +17.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.04% | +23.16%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.60% | +13.85%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.1%Tie | 14.1%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -33.2%Best | -34.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,106 | $19,128Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.1%Best | 37.6% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 12, 1996 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 21, 2026 (16 years).
EWJ vs VOO 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 16 years both funds cover.
EWJ vs VOO Performance
iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EWJ returned +25.76% while VOO returned +17.31%. Year to date, EWJ is up 21.10% versus a gain of 14.14% for VOO.
Over three years, EWJ compounded at +20.04% per year against +23.16% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +8.60% and +13.85% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.49% annualized vs +6.76%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWJ and VOO have been equally volatile, both at 14.1% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -33.2% for EWJ and -34.3% for VOO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWJ charges 0.49% per year while VOO 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 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 168 holdings in EWJ and 494 in VOO, totalling 99.8% and 99.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 168 positions we hold weights for in EWJ and 494 in VOO, against full books of 173 and 509.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 487 positions for VOO that do not appear in our book for EWJ (99.2% of the fund), and 1 for EWJ that do not appear in VOO (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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EWJ and VOO 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 VOO?
EWJ has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EWJ or VOO?
Over the past year EWJ returned +25.76% vs +17.31% for VOO, so EWJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), EWJ annualized +6.76% vs +13.49% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWJ or VOO?
EWJ and VOO have been equally volatile, both at 14.1% annualized. Worst drawdown: EWJ -33.2% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both EWJ and VOO?
EWJ and VOO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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 VOO?
EWJ yields 3.72% while VOO yields 1.04%, so EWJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than EWJ?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. EWJ led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EWJ is less concentrated, with 30.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 37.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.