WisdomTree Japan SmallCap Dividend Fund (DFJ) Performance
DFJ total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +17.9% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +23.5% total return
- 5 years
- +11.4% a year
- 10 years
- +8.5% a year
- Since first price
- +6.1% a year since 2006
DFJ trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | DFJ total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −3.0% | −3.1% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +7.1% | +7.0% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +11.2% | +9.8% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +17.9% | +16.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +23.5% | +20.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +82.3%+22.1%/yr | +69.3% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +71.3%+11.4%/yr | +50.3% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +126.1%+8.5%/yr | +78.6% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +261.0%+8.9%/yr | +160.4% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +233.9%+6.2%/yr | +123.2% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionJun 16, 2006 | +235.6%+6.1%/yr | +124.3% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: DFJ vs SPY
From Jun 16, 2006: DFJ grew to $33,562, SPY to $88,269.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
DFJ returns by calendar year
13 of 19 full years positive. Best 2017 (+32.1%), worst 2018 (−18.5%). 2026 is year to date.
DFJ annual returns table
| Year | DFJ | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +17.9% | −13.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +31.9% | −12.6% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +2.8% | −10.8% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +21.8% | −8.2% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −9.0% | −22.0% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +0.4% | −14.9% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +1.3% | −33.9% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +17.0% | −8.9% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −18.5% | −27.5% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +32.1% | −4.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +11.5% | −11.6% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +18.0% | −11.3% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −3.4% | −12.1% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +19.5% | −15.2% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +7.3% | −12.4% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −3.7% | −18.3% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +17.4% | −11.7% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +1.0% | −26.1% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −12.5% | −39.6% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | −10.6% | −16.2% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
DFJ largest drawdowns
Now 4.5% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 26, 2007 | −46.0% | Oct 10, 2008 | Mar 26, 2013 | 1.6 years | 6.1 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −40.0% | Mar 16, 2020 | Mar 19, 2021 | 2.1 years | 3.1 years |
| Sep 16, 2021 | −29.7% | Oct 14, 2022 | Mar 6, 2024 | 1.1 years | 2.5 years |
| May 8, 2013 | −15.2% | Jun 6, 2013 | Jan 17, 2014 | 29 days | 8 months |
| Aug 10, 2015 | −13.8% | Feb 12, 2016 | Jun 6, 2016 | 6 months | 10 months |
| Feb 27, 2026 | −13.0% | Mar 20, 2026 | Aug 5, 2026 | 21 days | 5 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
DFJ risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +21.9% | +11.5% | +9.1% | +6.2% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1% | 14.6% | 14.0% | 14.4% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.25 | 0.58 | 0.53 | 0.40 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.10 | 0.90 | 0.79 | 0.58 |
| Best month | +10.2% | +10.9% | +10.9% | +11.9% |
| Worst month | −9.6% | −9.6% | −11.2% | −13.2% |
| Best 12 months | +50.9% | +50.9% | +50.9% | +50.9% |
| Worst 12 months | +2.8% | −23.9% | −23.9% | −30.3% |
| Positive months | 72% | 62% | 62% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.37 | 0.45 | 0.51 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.35 | 0.48 | 0.56 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
DFJ rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 233 | −30.3% | +7.1% | +50.9% | 70% |
| 3-year (a year) | 209 | −8.6% | +6.5% | +23.4% | 81% |
| 5-year (a year) | 185 | −4.0% | +7.1% | +15.6% | 83% |
| 10-year (a year) | 125 | +2.4% | +6.8% | +10.7% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2006. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
DFJ performance overview
WisdomTree Japan SmallCap Dividend Fund (DFJ) returned +23.5% over the past year and +8.5% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2006 it has returned +6.1% a year, turning $10,000 into about $33,562. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −46.0%, from Feb 26, 2007 to Oct 10, 2008, and it took 4.5 years to get back to the old high. DFJ finished 13 of its 19 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2017 (+32.1%) and the worst 2018 (−18.5%). Volatility has been 14.4% a year.
Related: DFJ chart, DFJ holdings, DFJ dividends. See the DFJ overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
DFJ performance FAQ
What is the DFJ return over the past year?
DFJ returned +23.5% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 20.2%.
What is the average annual return of DFJ?
DFJ has returned +11.4% a year over 5 years, +8.5% a year over 10 years, +6.1% a year since June 16, 2006 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in DFJ be worth?
$10,000 invested in DFJ at its first recorded close on June 16, 2006 would be worth about $33,562 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for DFJ?
The worst calendar year was 2018, with a total return of −18.5%. The best was 2017 at +32.1%.
What is the biggest drawdown of DFJ?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −46.0% between February 26, 2007 and October 10, 2008. It recovered to the old high on March 26, 2013, 4.5 years after the bottom.
How volatile is DFJ?
Over the past 3 years DFJ had an annualized volatility of 13.1% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.25 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).