For investors concerned about increasing volatility in the U.S. stock market, Japanese equities offer a compelling alternative. In recent months, Japan's stock market has not only outperformed that of the United States but has also become an increasingly attractive destination for global investors seeking to diversify away from volatility in American equities.According to data released by Japan Exchange Group (cited in a Bloomberg press release), foreign investors bought a net 384 billion yen ($2.5 billion) ...

Core Viewpoint - The First Trust Japan AlphaDEX ETF (FJP) is a smart beta ETF that aims to provide broad exposure to the Asia-Pacific (Developed) ETFs market, utilizing a unique stock selection methodology to potentially outperform traditional market cap weighted indexes [1][5]. Fund Overview - Launched on April 18, 2011, FJP has accumulated over $202.58 million in assets, categorizing it as an average-sized ETF in its segment [5]. - The fund is managed by First Trust Advisors and seeks to match the performance of the NASDAQ AlphaDEX Japan Index, which employs the AlphaDEX stock selection methodology [5]. Cost Structure - FJP has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.80%, making it one of the more expensive options in the ETF space [6]. - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield is reported at 2.16% [6]. Holdings and Sector Exposure - The top holding in FJP is Subaru Corporation (7270.JP), accounting for approximately 1.83% of total assets, followed by Sugi Holdings Co., Ltd. and Central Japan Railway Company [7]. - The top 10 holdings collectively represent about 17.54% of the fund's total assets under management [8]. Performance Metrics - As of September 10, 2025, FJP has gained approximately 29.42% year-to-date and 29.15% over the past year [9]. - The ETF has traded within a range of $47.79 to $67.08 over the last 52 weeks [9]. - FJP has a beta of 0.58 and a standard deviation of 20.36% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [10]. Alternatives - Other ETFs in the Asia-Pacific (Developed) segment include JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF (BBJP) and iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ), with assets of $14.11 billion and $15.51 billion respectively [12]. - BBJP has a lower expense ratio of 0.19%, while EWJ charges 0.50%, presenting cheaper alternatives for investors [12].

Core Insights - The WisdomTree Japan SmallCap Dividend ETF (DFJ) offers investors exposure to small-cap dividend-paying companies in Japan, with a focus on smart beta strategies aimed at outperforming traditional market-cap weighted indexes [1][5][10] Fund Overview - DFJ was launched on June 16, 2006, and has accumulated over $320.9 million in assets, positioning it as an average-sized ETF within the Asia-Pacific (Developed) ETFs category [1][5] - The fund seeks to replicate the performance of the WisdomTree Japan SmallCap Dividend Index, which includes small-cap companies that pay dividends [5] Cost Structure - DFJ has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.58%, which is competitive within its peer group [6] - The fund's 12-month trailing dividend yield stands at 2.26% [6] Holdings and Sector Exposure - The fund's assets are primarily denominated in US Dollars (71.72%), with significant holdings in Japanese Yen and Toyo Tire Co [7] - DFJ's top 10 holdings account for approximately 104.37% of its total assets, indicating a concentrated investment strategy [7] Performance Metrics - DFJ has experienced a year-to-date gain of 25.26% and a 19.63% increase over the past year, with trading prices ranging from $70.93 to $93.98 in the last 52 weeks [8] - The fund has a beta of 0.41 and a standard deviation of 15.67% over the trailing three-year period, categorizing it as a medium-risk investment [9] Competitive Landscape - Alternatives to DFJ include the JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF (BBJP) and the iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ), which have significantly larger asset bases of $13.96 billion and $15.65 billion, respectively [11] - BBJP has a lower expense ratio of 0.19%, while EWJ charges 0.50%, making them potentially more attractive options for cost-conscious investors [11]

Core Insights - The WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity ETF (DXJ) debuted on June 16, 2006, and offers broad exposure to the Asia-Pacific (Developed) ETFs category [1] - The ETF industry has been traditionally dominated by market capitalization weighted indexes, but smart beta strategies are gaining traction among investors seeking to outperform the market [2][3] - The WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity ETF has amassed over $3.65 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] Fund Details - The fund is sponsored by WisdomTree and aims to match the performance of the WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Index, which provides exposure to Japanese equity markets while neutralizing currency fluctuations [5] - The ETF has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.48% and a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 3.61% [6] - The fund's holdings are primarily in U.S. dollars, accounting for approximately 99.07% of total assets, with top holdings including Mitsubishi Ufj Financial Group and Toyota Motor Corp [7] Performance Metrics - Year-to-date, the WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity ETF has increased by approximately 10.64%, and it has risen about 35.91% over the last 12 months as of August 7, 2025 [8] - The ETF has a beta of 0.43 and a standard deviation of 19.49% over the trailing three-year period, indicating a medium risk profile [9] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the space include JPMorgan BetaBuilders Japan ETF (BBJP) with $13.44 billion in assets and iShares MSCI Japan ETF (EWJ) with $15.62 billion in assets, offering lower expense ratios [11] - Investors may consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs for potentially cheaper and lower-risk options [11]