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EWJ

iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ)

Rating:71Outperform
Price Target:$103.00â–²(10.86% Upside)
Positive Factors
Strong Year-to-Date PerformanceThe ETF has delivered strong gains so far this year, showing solid momentum in Japanese stocks.
Leading Financial and Industrial HoldingsSeveral major financial and industrial companies in the top holdings have shown strong performance, helping support the fund’s overall returns.
Broad Sector Diversification Within JapanThe ETF spreads its investments across many sectors, including industrials, financials, technology, and consumer-related industries, which helps reduce the impact of weakness in any single area.
Negative Factors
Moderately High Expense RatioThe fund’s fees are higher than many low-cost index ETFs, which slightly reduces the net return investors receive over time.
Heavy Concentration in Japanese MarketWith most assets invested in Japan, the ETF is highly sensitive to economic and market conditions in a single country.
Mixed Performance Among Top HoldingsSome large positions, such as Toyota, Sony, and SoftBank Group, have shown weaker performance recently, which can drag on the fund’s results.

EWJ vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

AUM
23.85B
Region
Asia-Pacific
Expense Ratio
0.49%
Beta
0.93
Issuer
iShares
Inception Date
Mar 12, 1996
Dividend Yield
0.54%
Asset Class
Equity
Index Tracked
MSCI Japan

EWJ Summary

EWJ is an ETF that follows the MSCI Japan Index, giving you broad exposure to the Japanese stock market in one investment. It holds many types of companies, including industrial, financial, and technology firms. Well-known names in the fund include Toyota Motor and Sony, along with major Japanese banks. Someone might invest in EWJ to diversify beyond their home country and tap into the growth potential of Japan’s economy. A key risk is that the value of the ETF can go up or down with the Japanese stock market and currency movements.

How much will it cost me?

EWJ has an annual expense ratio of 0.49%, which means you’ll pay about $4.90 per year for every $1,000 invested. This is higher than the average low-cost index ETF because, while it passively tracks Japanese stocks, international and more specialized market exposure often comes with higher fees.

What would affect this ETF?

Future performance of EWJ will be helped if Japan’s economy grows steadily, global demand for industrials and technology stays strong, and local interest rates remain low enough to support banks like Mitsubishi UFJ and consumer-focused companies such as Toyota and Sony. On the downside, slower global growth, rising interest rates that pressure Japanese financials, or regulatory changes affecting major tech and communication names like SoftBank and Tokyo Electron could weigh on this Japan-focused ETF.

EWJ Top 10 Holdings

EWJ is leaning heavily on Japan’s financial giants and tech names, creating a barbell between banks and chip-related growth. Rising semiconductor players like Advantest and Tokyo Electron have been key engines, helping offset Toyota’s mixed performance and Sony’s recent wobble. Recruit Holdings has been a standout, quietly powering ahead and adding momentum from the services side. On the other hand, SoftBank has been dragging the fund with more bearish sentiment. With all holdings rooted in Japan, this ETF is a pure play on the country’s industrial and tech-driven recovery.

EWJ top ten holdings
NameCompany NameWeight %Market ValueMarket CapYearly GainOverall Rating
JP:8306JP:8306Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group4.54%$1.05BJPY 38.80T48.45%76Outperform
JP:7203JP:7203Toyota Motor3.64%$846.50MJPY 36.35T-3.61%80Outperform
JP:6857JP:6857Advantest3.11%$722.50MJPY 24.32T56.53%75Outperform
JP:6098JP:6098Recruit Holdings Co3.17%$737.06MJPY 26.61T152.27%67Neutral
JP:8316JP:8316Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group2.88%$669.76MJPY 24.48T56.38%77Outperform
JP:6758JP:6758Sony2.90%$674.98MJPY 23.45T-6.47%73Outperform
JP:6501JP:6501Hitachi,Ltd.2.79%$648.14MJPY 23.04T2.64%77Outperform
JP:8035JP:8035Tokyo Electron2.67%$621.18MJPY 22.14T44.20%73Outperform
JP:8411JP:8411Mizuho Financial Group2.20%$512.29MJPY 18.71T51.64%77Outperform
JP:9984JP:9984SoftBank Group2.02%$468.89MJPY 25.58T-31.85%64Neutral

EWJ Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNegative
Last Price92.91

Price Trends

50DMA96.54Negative
100DMA95.10Negative
200DMA91.54Positive

Market Momentum

MACD-0.78Positive
RSI34.41Neutral
STOCH42.66Neutral

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For EWJ, the sentiment is Negative. The current price of 92.91 is below the 20-day moving average (MA) of 96.01, below the 50-day MA of 96.54, and above the 200-day MA of 91.54, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of -0.78 indicates Positive momentum. The RSI at 34.41 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 42.66 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Negative sentiment for EWJ.

EWJ Peer Comparison

Comparison Results

EWJ against its peer funds
NamePricePrice TargetAUMExpense RatioOverall Rating
EWJEWJ$92.91$103.00(10.86% Upside)$23.85B0.49%71Outperform
BBJPBBJP$75.07$100.42(33.76% Upside)$19.07B0.19%71Outperform
DXJDXJ$58.39$72.70(24.51% Upside)$7.11B0.48%71Outperform
FLJPFLJP$39.59$51.78(30.78% Upside)$4.31B0.09%70Outperform
DBJPDBJP$111.40$147.77(32.66% Upside)$718.10M0.45%70Outperform
OPPJOPPJ$56.61―$331.61M0.58%69Neutral

Performance Comparison

0%20%40%EWJBBJPDXJFLJPDBJPOPPJDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26
EWJ and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
EWJiShares MSCI Japan ETF92.9112.7215.87%
BBJPJPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF75.079.5914.65%
DXJWisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund58.3913.6330.46%
FLJPFranklin FTSE Japan ETF39.595.5516.29%
DBJPXtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF111.3920.0821.99%
OPPJWisdomTree Japan Opportunities Fund56.6114.2333.58%
Glossary
BuyAn ETF rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldAn ETF rated as a "Hold" s expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the ETF is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellAn ETF rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the ETF may deliver lower returns compared to other ETFs in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
Disclaimer

This AI Analyst ETF Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in ETFs carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.