Zacks Analyst Blog Spotlights FJP, EWJV, DFJ, SCJ, FLJH, and SPY

Investment Insights on Japan's Market

• Berkshire Hathaway's Increased Stake: Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway has raised its stake in Mitsubishi Corp. to 10.23% from 9.74% and has also increased its holding in Mitsui & Co., although it remains below 10%. This move has positively impacted shares in Japanese trading houses, reflecting Buffett's confidence in these companies.

• Performance of Japanese ETFs: Several Japan-focused ETFs, including the First Trust Japan AlphaDEX Fund (FJP) and iShares MSCI Japan Value ETF (EWJV), have outperformed the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) recently, indicating strong market performance.

Economic Indicators

• Japan's GDP Growth: Japan's GDP grew by 0.3% in Q2 2025, surpassing market expectations of 0.1% and marking the fifth consecutive quarter of growth. This economic stability is a positive sign for investors.

• Valuation of Japanese Stocks: Despite recent gains, Japanese stocks remain attractively valued compared to U.S. stocks, with P/E ratios for various ETFs ranging from 14.37X to 21.85X, significantly lower than the S&P 500's P/E of approximately 33.75X.

Future Outlook

• Potential for Japan ETFs: The combination of low interest rates and a stable economy positions Japan ETFs favorably for future growth, making them an attractive option for investors looking to diversify their portfolios.

• Semiconductor Market Growth: The global semiconductor manufacturing market is projected to grow from $452 billion in 2021 to $971 billion by 2028, highlighting significant opportunities in this sector, particularly for companies not dominated by major players like NVIDIA.