HEWJ vs IVV
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF vs iShares Core S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, HEWJ or IVV?
Each has led over a different period.
IVV has a lower expense ratio. HEWJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, IVV over the full window.
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 | HEWJ | IVV |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $771M | $876.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.01% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 178 | 508 |
| YTD Return | +23.96%Best | +14.15% |
| 1Y Return | +37.84%Best | +17.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.41%Best | +23.17% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +20.98%Best | +13.85% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.8% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -33.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $25,916Best | $19,128 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 31, 2014 | May 15, 2000 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 4, 2014 to Sep 21, 2026 (12.6 years).
HEWJ 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 12.6 years both funds cover.
HEWJ vs IVV Performance
iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF (HEWJ) 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 HEWJ returned +37.84% while IVV returned +17.31%. Year to date, HEWJ is up 23.96% versus a gain of 14.15% for IVV.
Over three years, HEWJ compounded at +27.41% per year against +23.17% for IVV; over five years the annualized figures are +20.98% and +13.85% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, IVV has the edge at +13.17% annualized vs +12.94%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
HEWJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 14.6% 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 -34.1% for HEWJ and -33.9% 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HEWJ 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, HEWJ currently yields 4.01% against 1.06% for IVV.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of IVV's money is in holdings HEWJ also owns.
Stated as a floor: for HEWJ, our book for it covers 99.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 2 positions we hold weights for in HEWJ and 490 in IVV, against full books of 178 and 508.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HEWJ | 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 HEWJ 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, HEWJ or IVV?
HEWJ 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, HEWJ or IVV?
Over the past year HEWJ returned +37.84% vs +17.31% for IVV, so HEWJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), HEWJ annualized +12.94% vs +13.17% for IVV. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HEWJ or IVV?
HEWJ has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 14.6% for IVV. Worst drawdown: HEWJ -34.1% vs IVV -33.9%.
Should I hold both HEWJ and IVV?
HEWJ and IVV have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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, HEWJ or IVV?
HEWJ yields 4.01% while IVV yields 1.06%, so HEWJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is IVV better than HEWJ?
IVV has a lower expense ratio. HEWJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, IVV over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.