JPAN vs SPY
Matthews Japan Active ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
Which is better, JPAN or SPY?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
SPY has a lower expense ratio. JPAN led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. JPAN is less concentrated, with 37.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
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 | JPAN | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.09%Best |
| AUM | $10M | $814.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.47% | 1.01% |
| Holdings | 53 | 505 |
| YTD Return | +21.46%Best | +13.34% |
| 1Y Return | +29.66%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.76%Best | +21.20% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6% | 12.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.2%Best | -18.8% |
| $10,000 over 3 years | $18,956Best | $18,695 |
| Top 10 Weight | 37.2%Best | 38.0% |
| Fund Family | Matthews Asia Funds | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 21, 2023 | Jan 22, 1993 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2023 to Sep 4, 2026 (3 years).
JPAN vs SPY 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 3 years both funds cover.
JPAN vs SPY Performance
Matthews Japan Active ETF (JPAN) is an ETF from Matthews Asia Funds and State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year JPAN returned +29.66% while SPY returned +19.97%. Year to date, JPAN is up 21.46% versus a gain of 13.34% for SPY.
Over three years, JPAN compounded at +23.76% per year against +21.20% for SPY.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JPAN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% compared with 12.4% for SPY. 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 -15.2% for JPAN and -18.8% for SPY. 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
JPAN charges 0.79% per year while SPY charges 0.09%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $9 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JPAN currently yields 4.47% against 1.01% for SPY.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 51 holdings in JPAN and 504 in SPY, totalling 98.2% and 100.0% 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 51 positions we hold weights for in JPAN and 504 in SPY, against full books of 53 and 505.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 496 positions for SPY that do not appear in our book for JPAN (99.5% of the fund), and 1 for JPAN that do not appear in SPY (2.7%).
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 JPAN and SPY 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, JPAN or SPY?
JPAN has an expense ratio of 0.79% while SPY charges 0.09%. SPY is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JPAN or SPY?
Over the past year JPAN returned +29.66% vs +19.97% for SPY, so JPAN leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JPAN or SPY?
JPAN has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 12.4% for SPY. Worst drawdown: JPAN -15.2% vs SPY -18.8%.
Should I hold both JPAN and SPY?
JPAN and SPY 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, JPAN or SPY?
JPAN yields 4.47% while SPY yields 1.01%, so JPAN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is SPY better than JPAN?
SPY has a lower expense ratio. JPAN led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. JPAN is less concentrated, with 37.2% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.