EWJ provides broad exposure to the Japanese equity market. It was the first Japan-focused ETF to launch in 1996 and quickly became the bellwether for US-based investors wanting Japanese market exposure. The fund excludes the bottom 15% of Japanese companies by market cap, which tilts it slightly larger than our broad benchmark. Otherwise, EWJ is well aligned with the Japanese stock market. While its headline expense ratio stands out as high versus segment peers, actual holding costs as measured by tracking data are more competitive. The fund is a titan when it comes to both on-screen and block liquidity. Ease of trading and massive AUM make EWJ a staple in the segment and combined with marketlike exposure earn the nod for Analyst Pick.
