A side-by-side comparison of BMO Japan Index ETF (ZJPN) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF-U) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | ZJPN | XEF-U |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | +18.03%✓ | +7.48% |
| 1-Day Change | +0.12% | +0.96%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | +0.14% | +1.08%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | -2.95% | 0.00%✓ |
| Current Price | $50.28 | $36.62 |
| AUM | $725M | $6.19B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | — | — |
| Dividend Yield | 1.04% | 3.63%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | Quarterly | — |
| Inception Date | 2022-01-24 | — |
| Holdings Count | 10 | 10 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Unclassified | Unclassified |
| Beta | 0.79 | 0.00 |
| 52-Week High | $53.88 | $38.40 |
| 52-Week Low | $40.97 | $31.03 |
| 50-Day MA | $51.30 | $37.01 |
| 200-Day MA | $48.33 | $36.34 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | ZJPN | XEF-U |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | +18.03%✓ | +7.48% |
| 1 Year | +17.93% | — |
| 3 Year | +21.07% | — |
| 5 Year | +0.00% | — |
| 10 Year | +0.00% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 14.87% | — |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.63 | — |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | 8306 | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 4.25% |
| 2 | 7203 | Toyota Motor Corp | 2.91% |
| 3 | 8316 | Sumitomo Mitsui Financial | 2.76% |
| 4 | 8035 | Tokyo Electron Limited | 2.79% |
| 5 | 6857 | Advantest Corp. | 2.57% |
| 6 | 6501 | Hitachi Ltd | 2.58% |
| 7 | 6758 | Sony Corp | 2.38% |
| 8 | 9984 | Softbank Group Corp. | 2.18% |
| 9 | 8411 | Mizuho Financial Group Inc | 2.29% |
| 10 | 6098 | Recruit Holdings Co Ltd | 2.27% |
| 1 | ASML | ASML Holding N.V. | 2.64% |
| 2 | IEFA | iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 2.21% |
| 3 | HSBA | HSBC Holdings PLC | 1.37% |
| 4 | ROP | Roche Holding AG | 1.15% |
| 5 | SHEL | Shell plc | 1.10% |
| 6 | NOVN | Novartis AG | 1.05% |
| 7 | 8306 | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 0.95% |
| 8 | AZN | AstraZeneca PLC | 0.94% |
| 9 | NESN | Nestle S.A. | 0.92% |
| 10 | SIE | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | 0.90% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | ZJPN | XEF-U |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 3.23% | — |
| Communication Services | 9.11% | — |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 11.65% | — |
| Consumer Defensive | 3.90% | — |
| Energy | 0.90% | — |
| Financial Services | 18.21% | — |
| Healthcare | 5.15% | — |
| Industrials | 23.82% | — |
| Real Estate | 2.49% | — |
| Technology | 20.09% | — |
| Utilities | 1.20% | — |
About ZJPN
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About XEF-U
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Which ETF is Right for You?
Both ZJPN and XEF-U are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, XEF-U scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between ZJPN and XEF-U?
ZJPN (BMO Japan Index ETF) and XEF-U (iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($725M vs $6.19B), dividend yield (1.04% vs 3.63%), and year-to-date performance (+18.03% vs +7.48%).
Is ZJPN better than XEF-U?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise recent performance, ZJPN has outperformed year-to-date. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy ZJPN and XEF-U on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both ZJPN and XEF-U should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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