EWJ vs SPY
iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund compared with State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust on yield, payout growth, payment schedule, cost and risk.
EWJ
iShares MSCI Japan Index Fund
TTM yield · Semi-annual
SPY
State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust
TTM yield · Quarterly
Quick take
- EWJ yields more today: 1.02% vs 1.00% (forward).
- SPY has grown its payout faster: 6.2%/yr vs -8.1%/yr over the last 5 years.
- EWJ pays twice a year; SPY pays every quarter.
- SPY has the longer streak of annual increases: 12 years vs 0.
- Over the last year EWJ delivered the higher total return: +26.2% vs +19.4% (price change plus payouts).
- SPY has the steadier distribution: consistency 93/100 vs 54/100.
Generated from the latest data on both pages. Not a recommendation.
Side by side
| Metric | EWJ | SPY |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $98.28 | $762.40 |
| TTM yield | 0.51% | 0.99% |
| Forward yield | 1.02% | 1.00% |
| Annual payout per share | $1.002 | $7.616 |
| Payment frequency | Semi-annual | Quarterly |
| Next ex-date | Dec 16, 2026 (est.) | Sep 17, 2026 (est.) |
| Expense ratio | — | 0.09% |
| 1-year payout growth | -69.7% | +5.0% |
| 5-year payout CAGR | -8.1% | +6.2% |
| Consecutive years of increases | 0 years | 12 years |
| Payout consistency (last 12) | 54/100 | 93/100 |
| 1-year total return | +26.2% | +19.4% |
| 1-year price return | +25.5% | +18.2% |
| Size (market cap / AUM) | — | 811.9B |
| Years paying | 29.0 | 33.5 |
| Sector / category | — | Large Blend |
✓ marks the more favourable figure where one exists (higher yield, growth, streak, consistency, return and size; lower cost, payout ratio and risk).
$10,000 invested today
| EWJ | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | 101.8 | 13.1 |
| Income per year | $102 | $100 |
| Income per month (avg) | $8 | $8 |
Next payments
| Ex-date | Pay date | Per share | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| EWJ Dec 16, 2026 | Dec 30, 2026 | $0.501 | Est. |
| EWJ Jun 18, 2027 | Jul 2, 2027 | $0.501 | Est. |
| SPY Sep 17, 2026 | Oct 1, 2026 | $1.904 | Est. |
| SPY Dec 17, 2026 | Dec 31, 2026 | $1.904 | Est. |
| SPY Mar 18, 2027 | Apr 1, 2027 | $1.904 | Est. |
Annual payouts per share
EWJSPY
Regular payments only; the current year is year to date. Per-share amounts are not directly comparable when share prices differ, so read this chart for growth trends.
FAQ
Which has the higher dividend yield, EWJ or SPY?
SPY currently has the higher trailing yield: EWJ yields 0.51% and SPY yields 0.99%. Yield changes daily with price, so check the live figures above.
How often do EWJ and SPY pay?
EWJ pays twice a year and SPY pays every quarter. EWJ's next ex-date is Dec 16, 2026 and SPY's is Sep 17, 2026.
Which has grown its dividend faster, EWJ or SPY?
SPY has grown its payout faster: 6.2%/yr vs -8.1%/yr over the last 5 years.
Is EWJ or SPY better for income?
It depends on what you are optimising for. EWJ and SPY differ in yield, growth, payment schedule and risk profile; the table above puts every metric side by side so you can weigh them for your own goals. This page is data, not advice.