EWJ ETF — iShares MSCI Japan ETF

iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ)

EWJ is an ETF. its distribution rate is 1.03%, its trailing-12-month yield is 3.67%, its expense ratio is 0.49%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 59/100 (Caution). Total return is 152.2% over the past 30.5 years, 1717.4 points behind SPY at 1869.6%.

At the current 1.03% distribution rate, a $10,000 investment would generate approximately $103 per year, or about $51.50 per semi-annual payment if the next payment matches the last regular one.

iShares MSCI Japan ETF is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the large- and mid-capitalization segments of the Japanese equity market, investing at least 80% of its assets in the underlying index components. The fund offers a modest current distribution rate and distributes semi-annually, with an expense ratio of 0.49%. It appeals to investors seeking international equity exposure with a focus on Japanese large- and mid-cap companies.

EWJ performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-09-18.

Total return is 152.2% over the past 30.5 years, 1717.4 points behind SPY at 1869.6%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 24.2%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 13.6%.

EWJ key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

59 · Caution

Safety-Adjusted Yield

0.61%

Issuer

iShares

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

03/12/1996

Expense ratio

0.49%

Distribution rate

1.03%

Distribution frequency

Semi-Annual

Trailing yield

3.67%

Last close

$97.00 (as of 2026-09-18)

NAV

$96.62

Premium / discount

0.39% premium

AUM

$23,100,726,718

Average volume

2605300.0

Last dividend

$0.501

Last ex-dividend date

06/15/2026

Last payment date

06/18/2026

Beta

0.86

P/E ratio

19.5104

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (1.03%) is the latest regular payout annualized by the fund's stated frequency, divided by the last close. Issuers often publish this as “Distribution Rate” on the fact sheet. Trailing-12-month yield (3.67%) is the sum of distributions paid in the last 12 months, split-adjusted, divided by the last close. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: iShares or company page; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

EWJ risks and drawbacks

EWJ's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Payments are semi-annual, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. Total return has trailed SPY over the available window. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 13.6%.

Who may consider EWJ — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (EWJ pays semi-annual); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields; investors whose main goal is matching SPY total return. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

Frequently asked questions

More securities from iShares.