iShares MSCI Japan ETF vs Nomura Holdings Inc — how do they compare? iShares MSCI Japan ETF trades at $97.7, while Nomura Holdings Inc trades at $9.8 (market cap $28.46B). The key difference: Nomura Holdings Inc pays a 3.31% dividend while iShares MSCI Japan ETF pays none, and iShares MSCI Japan ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Nomura Holdings Inc nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| EWJ | NMR | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | Financials |
52-Week High | $96.97 | $10.04 |
52-Week Low | $77.93 | $6.73 |
Market Cap | — | $28.46B |
Dividend Yield | — | 3.31% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
EWJ, the iShares MSCI Japan ETF, trades at $97.79, up 1.81% today, with a bullish technical signal driven by strong moving average alignment. The fund's performance is influenced by Japanese economic policies, including recent U.S.-Japan currency intervention and domestic stimulus efforts. Key resistance sits at $97, with support at $96. Recent news highlights focus on yen strength and its impact on export-heavy Japanese equities.
The outlook for EWJ is cautiously optimistic, supported by bullish technicals and potential economic tailwinds from Japanese fiscal policy. Risks include yen volatility, export sensitivity to currency moves, and broader Asian market turbulence. Investor sentiment is mixed, balancing policy support against inflation and growth concerns.
Nomura Holdings (NMR) trades at $9.925, up 1.07% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a neutral stance from oscillators. The company reported strong revenue growth, with 2025 revenue reaching $1.66 trillion and net income of $340.74 billion, yielding a net margin of 20.4%. Recent earnings show a mix of beats and misses, with Q2 2026 EPS beating expectations. Analyst consensus leans toward Hold, with 66.67% of coverage recommending Hold and 33.33% Buy.
The outlook for NMR is supported by robust profitability and valuation metrics like a P/E of 11.59, suggesting potential undervaluation. However, risks include inconsistent cash flow from operations, rising debt-to-asset ratios, and macroeconomic sensitivity. Investors should weigh solid fundamentals against cash flow volatility and debt trends for balanced decision-making.
Trailing returns across standard periods
EWJ tracks the MSCI Japan Index, providing broad exposure to over 180 large and mid-cap companies in Japan. It is the most established and liquid vehicle for accessing the Japanese equity market, featuring a diversified portfolio across industrials, consumer discretionary, and financial sectors.
Read more on EWJ →Nomura is Japan's largest broker, about twice the size of rival Daiwa Securities and roughly three times the size of the securities units of the three megabanks. It is also the largest asset-management company in Japan, with a similar size differential compared with its rivals. Despite its topnotch brand name in retail broking and asset management in Japan, Nomura has struggled to compete effectively in the institutional securities business against larger global rivals. In 2008, Nomura bought European and Asian assets of the failed Lehman Brothers, which led to a sharply higher cost base but did not provide commensurate revenue. Nomura has reduced the scale of these businesses but maintains its ambition to compete globally with the top players.
Read more on NMR →