EWJ vs VTI
iShares MSCI Japan ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EWJ or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EWJ led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EWJ is less concentrated, with 30.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $22.6B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.72% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 173 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +19.93%Best | +11.06% |
| 1Y Return | +24.38%Best | +15.41% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.82% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.12% | +11.52%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.8% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -55.8%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,775 | $17,249Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 30.1%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 12, 1996 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 16, 2026 (25.3 years).
EWJ vs VTI 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 25.3 years both funds cover.
EWJ vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EWJ returned +24.38% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, EWJ is up 19.93% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, EWJ compounded at +18.82% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.12% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +7.99% annualized vs +3.73%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.8% compared with 15.3% for VTI. 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 -55.8% for EWJ and -56.6% for VTI. 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 VTI 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 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 168 holdings in EWJ and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.8% and 98.1% 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 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 173 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for EWJ (97.5% of the fund), and 1 for EWJ that do not appear in VTI (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 VTI 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 VTI?
EWJ has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EWJ or VTI?
Over the past year EWJ returned +24.38% vs +15.41% for VTI, so EWJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), EWJ annualized +3.73% vs +7.99% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWJ or VTI?
EWJ has been the more volatile fund at 15.8% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: EWJ -55.8% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both EWJ and VTI?
EWJ and VTI 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 VTI?
EWJ yields 3.72% while VTI yields 1.03%, so EWJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EWJ?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EWJ led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. EWJ is less concentrated, with 30.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.