Industry Distribution:

• Industry: 21%
• Technology: 19%
• Finance: 16%

TOP 3 Markets:

• Japan: 95%
• USA: 3%
• Europe: 2%

The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) is heavily focused on the Japanese market, as reflected in a high proportion of 95% of investments in Japan. The industry distribution shows diversification with a focus on industry, technology, and finance, which is typical of the structure of the Japanese economy. The low shares in the USA and Europe indicate limited international diversification, which is common for an ETF that focuses on the Japanese market.

iShares MSCI Japan ETF (ARCA:EWJ) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) and not a company that manufactures physical products.

iShares is a brand of BlackRock, one of the largest asset managers globally. The iShares MSCI Japan ETF invests in a portfolio of Japanese stocks included in the MSCI Japan Index. Therefore, the ETF itself does not produce physical products but offers investors the opportunity to invest in the Japanese stock market.

Current Strategy: Diversification and Market Adaptation

The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) pursues a strategy aimed at diversification and adapting to market conditions. This strategy includes:

1. Broad Diversification: The ETF invests in a variety of Japanese companies to spread risk and benefit from growth opportunities in different sectors of the Japanese economy.

2. Focus on Sustainable Companies: There is an increased focus on companies that follow sustainable practices to meet the growing demands of ESG investors.

3. Adaptation to Economic Trends: The ETF adjusts its allocation to benefit from macroeconomic trends in Japan, such as digitization and the aging population.

This strategy enables the iShares MSCI Japan ETF to flexibly respond to changes in the economic environment and promote long-term growth.

Main Imported Raw Materials for Japan:

1. Crude Oil: Main suppliers are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
2. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): Imported from Australia, Malaysia, and Qatar.
3. Coal: Sourced from Australia, Indonesia, and Russia.
4. Iron Ore: Mainly from Australia and Brazil.
5. Copper: Imported from Chile and Peru.

Japan heavily relies on imported raw materials as it has limited natural resources. Crude oil and liquefied natural gas are crucial for the country's energy supply. Australia plays a central role as a supplier of coal and iron ore, while countries in South America are important copper suppliers. These imports are essential to support Japan's industrial production and energy sector.

Current Net Asset Value (NAV): $65.23 (2025)

Expense Ratio: 0.50% (2025)

The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) is an exchange-traded fund that aims to replicate the performance of the MSCI Japan Index. The competitive advantage of this ETF lies in its broad diversification and the opportunity to invest in the Japanese stock market without having to invest directly in individual stocks.

The fund provides investors access to a diversified portfolio of Japanese companies, reducing risk compared to individual investments. The expense ratio of 0.50% is competitive, allowing investors to invest cost-effectively in the Japanese market.

Additionally, the ETF benefits from the strong brand and distribution network of iShares, one of the largest providers of ETFs worldwide. This gives EWJ an advantage in terms of liquidity and tradability, as it is easily accessible and frequently traded.

Institutional Investor Share: approximately 60-70% (estimate based on historical data)

Insider Buys/Sells: No significant insider transactions known (2025)

The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) is a widely traded exchange-traded fund focusing on the Japanese stock market. Historically, institutional investors have held a significant share in this ETF, typically between 60% and 70%. These investors value the diversification and exposure to the Japanese market that the ETF provides.

Insider transactions are less relevant for ETFs than for individual stocks, as ETFs represent a collection of stocks and are not issued by a single company. Therefore, there are usually no insider buys or sells in the traditional sense.

Market share iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ): Estimate: approx. 20% (2025)

Top competitors and their market shares:

1. Vanguard FTSE Japan ETF (VPL): approx. 18%
2. SPDR MSCI Japan StrategicFactors ETF (QJPN): approx. 15%
3. WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund (DXJ): approx. 12%
4. Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF (DBJP): approx. 10%
5. Franklin FTSE Japan ETF (FLJP): approx. 8%

The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) holds a significant market share of around 20%, making it one of the leading ETFs in the Japanese stock sector. Its moat lies primarily in broad acceptance and high trading volume, making it attractive to investors seeking liquidity and market exposure.

Compared to its competitors, EWJ benefits from a long-standing market presence and a strong brand that instills confidence in investors. However, the competition, especially Vanguard and SPDR, also offer strong products with specific advantages such as lower costs or strategic factors that may be appealing to certain investors.

Overall, EWJ has a solid moat, but the competition is intense, and competitors also provide attractive alternatives that could be preferred depending on investors' investment strategies.

Fund Size: approximately 12.5 billion USD (2023) Annual Expense Ratio: 0.50% (2023) 5-Year Performance: approximately 7.2% p.a. (until 2023)

The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) offers investors broad diversification in the Japanese stock market. With a fund size of around 12.5 billion USD, it is one of the larger ETFs investing in Japanese stocks. The annual expense ratio of 0.50% is moderate compared to other international ETFs.

Over the past five years, the ETF has achieved an average annual return of about 7.2%. This performance reflects the recovery and growth of the Japanese economy, supported by structural reforms and an expansive monetary policy by the Bank of Japan.

For investors interested in diversifying their portfolios and benefiting from the stability and growth potential of the Japanese economy, EWJ could be an attractive option. Japan's long-term growth prospects, especially in the technology and automotive industries, could continue to provide positive momentum for the ETF.

Dividend yield: 1.2% (2024) Dividend history: Regular payouts for several years

The iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) regularly pays a dividend. The dividend yield was recently around 1.2% in 2024. The ETF has a history of reliable payouts, making it attractive to investors interested in regular income.

The payout reliability is high as the ETF invests in a diversified selection of Japanese companies that typically pay stable dividends. This contributes to the consistency of the ETF's dividend payments.