iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF (SCJ) Performance
SCJ total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +16.8% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +19.5% total return
- 5 years
- +8.1% a year
- 10 years
- +7.3% a year
- Since first price
- +6.3% a year since 2007
SCJ trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | SCJ total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −2.5% | −2.5% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +3.1% | +3.1% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +8.6% | +7.6% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +16.8% | +15.7% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +19.5% | +15.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +76.2%+20.8%/yr | +63.9% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +47.8%+8.1%/yr | +33.4% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +102.0%+7.3%/yr | +63.3% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +224.1%+8.2%/yr | +134.1% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionDec 21, 2007 | +214.4%+6.3%/yr | +113.1% | — | — | — |
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: SCJ vs SPY
From Dec 21, 2007: SCJ grew to $31,439, SPY to $72,210.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
SCJ returns by calendar year
12 of 18 full years positive. Best 2017 (+31.6%), worst 2008 (−19.0%). 2026 is year to date.
SCJ annual returns table
| Year | SCJ | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +16.8% | −12.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +29.6% | −12.4% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +3.4% | −9.6% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +13.2% | −9.6% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −12.8% | −24.0% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | −2.9% | −14.6% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +7.5% | −32.7% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +19.2% | −6.4% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −17.2% | −26.5% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +31.6% | −3.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +8.2% | −11.1% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +14.9% | −12.0% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −2.6% | −12.3% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +24.7% | −15.4% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +5.5% | −12.6% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −4.8% | −19.4% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +19.1% | −11.1% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +2.2% | −23.6% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −19.0% | −43.5% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
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.
SCJ largest drawdowns
Now 4.2% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 16, 2008 | −43.5% | Oct 10, 2008 | Feb 3, 2011 | 5 months | 2.7 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −37.3% | Mar 16, 2020 | Jan 6, 2021 | 2.1 years | 2.9 years |
| Sep 13, 2021 | −33.3% | Oct 20, 2022 | May 23, 2025 | 1.1 years | 3.7 years |
| Feb 28, 2011 | −19.4% | Mar 16, 2011 | Jul 21, 2011 | 16 days | 5 months |
| May 8, 2013 | −15.4% | Jun 6, 2013 | Oct 17, 2013 | 29 days | 5 months |
| Jul 22, 2011 | −15.4% | Jun 1, 2012 | Mar 1, 2013 | 10 months | 1.6 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
SCJ risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +20.1% | +8.1% | +7.7% | +6.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9% | 14.4% | 13.9% | 15.1% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.15 | 0.36 | 0.44 | 0.41 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.92 | 0.55 | 0.64 | 0.60 |
| Best month | +10.3% | +10.9% | +10.9% | +12.6% |
| Worst month | −9.2% | −9.2% | −11.2% | −13.9% |
| Best 12 months | +47.1% | +47.1% | +47.1% | +47.1% |
| Worst 12 months | +3.4% | −27.3% | −27.3% | −34.0% |
| Positive months | 78% | 65% | 66% | 62% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.47 | 0.53 | 0.57 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.46 | 0.57 | 0.63 | — |
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.
SCJ rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 215 | −34.0% | +7.7% | +47.1% | 74% |
| 3-year (a year) | 191 | −5.9% | +7.0% | +20.5% | 88% |
| 5-year (a year) | 167 | −3.4% | +7.3% | +15.2% | 92% |
| 10-year (a year) | 107 | +4.0% | +7.1% | +10.8% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
SCJ performance overview
iShares MSCI Japan Small-Cap ETF (SCJ) returned +19.5% over the past year and +7.3% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +6.3% a year, turning $10,000 into about $31,439. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −43.5%, from May 16, 2008 to Oct 10, 2008, and it took 2.3 years to get back to the old high. SCJ finished 12 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2017 (+31.6%) and the worst 2008 (−19.0%). Volatility has been 15.1% a year.
Related: SCJ chart, SCJ holdings, SCJ dividends. See the SCJ overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
SCJ performance FAQ
What is the SCJ return over the past year?
SCJ returned +19.5% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 15.9%.
What is the average annual return of SCJ?
SCJ has returned +8.1% a year over 5 years, +7.3% a year over 10 years, +6.3% a year since December 21, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in SCJ be worth?
$10,000 invested in SCJ at its first recorded close on December 21, 2007 would be worth about $31,439 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for SCJ?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −19.0%. The best was 2017 at +31.6%.
What is the biggest drawdown of SCJ?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −43.5% between May 16, 2008 and October 10, 2008. It recovered to the old high on February 3, 2011, 2.3 years after the bottom.
How volatile is SCJ?
Over the past 3 years SCJ had an annualized volatility of 12.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.15 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).