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Matthews Japan Fund
MJFOX

Snapshot
  • High-conviction growth strategy seeks alpha in Japan
  • Unconstrained all-cap approach seeking Japanese companies positioned to benefit from Asia's growth
  • Invests in companies leveraged to the fast growing consumer demand across Asia, global industry leaders and entrepreneurial companies providing innovative domestic solutions

12/31/1998

Inception Date

7.28%

YTD Return

(as of 04/18/2024)

$18.86

NAV

(as of 04/18/2024)

-0.04

1 Day NAV Change

(as of 04/18/2024)

Objective

Long-term capital appreciation

Strategy

Under normal circumstances, the Matthews Japan Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets, which include borrowings for investment purposes, in the common and preferred stocks of companies located in Japan. The Fund seeks to invest in companies capable of sustainable growth based on the fundamental characteristics of those companies, including balance sheet information; number of employees; size and stability of cash flow; management’s depth, adaptability and integrity; product lines; marketing strategies; corporate governance; and financial health.

Risks

Investments in Asian securities may involve risks such as social and political instability, market illiquidity, exchange-rate fluctuations, a high level of volatility and limited regulation. In addition, investments in a single-country fund, which is considered a non-diversified fund, may be subject to a higher degree of market risk than diversified funds because of concentration in a specific country.

These and other risks associated with investing in the Fund can be found in the prospectus.

Fund Facts
Inception Date 12/31/1998
Fund Assets $744.81 million (03/31/2024)
Currency USD
Ticker MJFOX
Cusip 577-130-800
Portfolio Turnover 100.6%
Benchmark MSCI Japan Index
Geographic Focus Japan
Fees & Expenses
Gross Expense Ratio 1.05%

Performance

  • Monthly
  • Quarterly
  • Calendar Year
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As of 03/31/2024
Average Annual Total Returns
Name 1MO 3MO YTD 1YR 3YR 5YR 10YR Since Inception Inception Date
Matthews Japan Fund - MJFOX
12/31/1998
MJFOX
5.57% 15.30% 15.30% 25.82% 0.58% 6.94% 7.30% 6.08%
MSCI Japan Index
3.16% 11.16% 11.16% 26.20% 4.08% 8.16% 7.06% 4.29%
As of 03/31/2024
Average Annual Total Returns
Name 1MO 3MO YTD 1YR 3YR 5YR 10YR Since Inception Inception Date
Matthews Japan Fund - MJFOX
12/31/1998
MJFOX
5.57% 15.30% 15.30% 25.82% 0.58% 6.94% 7.30% 6.08%
MSCI Japan Index
3.16% 11.16% 11.16% 26.20% 4.08% 8.16% 7.06% 4.29%
For the years ended December 31st
Name 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014
Matthews Japan Fund - MJFOX
MJFOX
17.99% -27.85% -1.92% 29.82% 26.08% -20.18% 33.14% 0.40% 20.83% -2.60%
MSCI Japan Index
20.77% -16.31% 2.04% 14.91% 20.07% -12.58% 24.39% 2.73% 9.90% -3.72%

Source: BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. All performance is in US$.

Assumes reinvestment of all dividends and/or distributions before taxes. All performance quoted represents past performance and is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate with market conditions so that when redeemed, shares may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the return figures quoted. Returns would have been lower if certain of the Fund’s fees and expenses had not been waived. Performance differences between the Institutional class and the Investor class may arise due to differences in fees charged to each class.

Additional performance, attribution, liquidity, value at risk (VaR), security classification and holdings information is available on request for certain time periods.

Growth of a Hypothetical $10,000 Investment Since Inception

(as of 03/31/2024)

Source: BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc. All performance is in US$.

The performance data and graph do not reflect the deduction of taxes that a shareholder would pay on dividends, capital gain distributions or redemption of fund shares.

Ratings

  • OVERALL
  • out of 34 funds
  • 3 YEAR
  • out of 34 funds
  • 5 YEAR
  • out of 32 funds
  • 10 YEAR
  • out of 23 funds
  • 1 YEAR
  • 2nd
  • 10 out of 36 funds
  • 3 YEAR
  • 3rd
  • 18 out of 33 funds
  • 5 YEAR
  • 2nd
  • 15 out of 31 funds
  • 10 YEAR
  • 2nd
  • 9 out of 22 funds
  • SINCE INCEPTION
  • 2nd
  • 3 out of 7 funds

Ratings agency calculation methodology

Portfolio Managers

Shuntaro  Takeuchi photo
Shuntaro Takeuchi

Lead Manager

Donghoon  Han photo
Donghoon Han

Lead Manager

Portfolio Characteristics

(as of 03/31/2024)
Fund Benchmark
Number of Positions 48 218
Weighted Average Market Cap $59.4 billion $72.9 billion
Active Share 64.5 n.a.
P/E using FY1 estimates 19.4x 16.9x
P/E using FY2 estimates 17.5x 15.6x
Price/Cash Flow 12.6 11.1
Price/Book 2.0 1.6
Return On Equity 13.5 12.2
EPS Growth (3 Yr) 17.8% 13.8%

Sources: Factset Research Systems, Inc.

Risk Metrics (3 Yr Return)

(as of 03/31/2024)
-3.18%
Alpha
1.10
Beta
103.51%
Upside Capture
115.69%
Downside Capture
-0.12
Sharpe Ratio
-0.54
Information Ratio
6.50%
Tracking Error
88.19

Fund Risk Metrics are reflective of Investor share class.

Sources: Zephyr StyleADVISOR

Top 10 Holdings

(as of 03/31/2024)
Name Sector % Net Assets
Keyence Corp. Information Technology 4.6
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. Materials 4.5
Tokyo Electron, Ltd. Information Technology 4.2
Hitachi, Ltd. Industrials 4.2
Tokio Marine Holdings, Inc. Financials 4.0
ORIX Corp. Financials 3.4
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. Financials 3.2
Mitsubishi Corp. Industrials 3.0
FUJIFILM Holdings Corp. Information Technology 2.9
Fast Retailing Co., Ltd. Consumer Discretionary 2.9
TOTAL 36.9

Top 10 holdings may combine more than one security from the same issuer and related depositary receipts.

Source: BNY Mellon Investment Servicing (US) Inc.

Portfolio Breakdown (%)

(as of 03/31/2024)
  • Sector Allocation
  • Market Cap Exposure
Sector Fund Benchmark Difference
Information Technology 20.7 15.6 5.1
Consumer Discretionary 20.1 19.6 0.5
Industrials 19.5 22.2 -2.7
Financials 12.6 13.3 -0.7
Materials 7.7 4.5 3.2
Health Care 5.1 7.6 -2.5
Consumer Staples 4.3 5.2 -0.9
Real Estate 4.0 3.1 0.9
Communication Services 3.4 6.8 -3.4
Utilities 0.0 1.1 -1.1
Energy 0.0 0.9 -0.9
Cash and Other Assets, Less Liabilities 2.6 0.0 2.6

Sector data based on MSCI’s revised Global Industry Classification Standards. For more details, visit www.msci.com.

Equity market cap of issuer Fund Benchmark Difference
Mega Cap (over $25B) 60.6 66.2 -5.6
Large Cap ($10B-$25B) 16.2 21.9 -5.7
Mid Cap ($3B-$10B) 14.8 11.8 3.0
Small Cap (under $3B) 5.8 0.0 5.8
Cash and Other Assets, Less Liabilities 2.6 0.0 2.6

Source: FactSet Research Systems.

Percentage values in data are rounded to the nearest tenth of one percent, so the values may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Percentage values may be derived from different data sources and may not be consistent with other Fund literature.

Commentary

Period ended March 31, 2024

Market Environment

  • Japan was the best performing market in Asia as well as globally in the first quarter. During the period, the Japanese equity market surpassed an historical peak set back in 1989 thanks, in part, to capital efficiency reforms that have triggered higher dividends and more buybacks and encouraged inflows from global investors.
  • At the same time, Japanese companies are delivering robust earnings and we think Japanese corporates are in a good place as we anticipate U.S. interest rates coming down this year which will be a boost to global economic growth. In addition, Japan’s technology sector is benefiting from the global uptake in generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
  • In March, the Bank of Japan made a major decision to end its negative interest rate policy in a signal to investors that Japan’s growth momentum is real, yet monetary policy is set to remain accommodative.

Contributors and Detractors

  • For the quarter ended March 31, 2024, the Japan Fund returned 15.3% (Investor Class) and 15.31% (Institutional Class) while its benchmark, the MSCI Japan Index, returned 11.16% over the same period.
  • The top three contributors to relative performance, on a sector basis, were consumer discretionary, industrials and health care due to stock selection. The top three detractors to relative performance were materials due to an overweight allocation, financials due to an underweight allocation and energy due to zero allocation.
  • The three largest contributors to absolute performance during the quarter included Tokyo Electron, a semiconductor production equipment company, Mitsubishi Corp., a trading company, and Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings, a department store operator. The top three detractors to performance included Nissin Foods Holdings, a producer of instant noodle and processed food products, OBIC, an IT company mainly engaged in software, and Toppan Holdings, a printing company.

Outlook

  • The Bank of Japan’s recent decision to end its negative interest rate policy is a key signal to investors that for the first time in a long time the central bank sees a growth momentum taking hold and that it is prepared to be relatively dovish. As we look ahead, we may see Japanese equities consolidating but over the longer term we believe Japan is a very good opportunity, as capital efficiency reforms entrench and earnings remain robust. 

 

View the Fund’s Top 10 holdings as of March 31, 2024. Current and future holdings are subject to change and risk.

Average Annual Total Returns - MJFOX as of 03/31/2024
1YR 3YR 5YR 10YR Since Inception Inception Date
25.82% 0.58% 6.94% 7.30% 6.08% 12/31/1998

All performance quoted is past performance and is no guarantee of future results. Investment return and principal value will fluctuate with changing market conditions so that shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Current performance may be lower or higher than the return figures quoted. Returns would have been lower if certain of the Fund's fees and expenses had not been waived. Please see the Fund's most recent month-end performance.

Fees & Expenses
Gross Expense Ratio 1.05%

Investments in Asian securities may involve risks such as social and political instability, market illiquidity, exchange-rate fluctuations, a high level of volatility and limited regulation. In addition, investments in a single-country fund, which is considered a non-diversified fund, may be subject to a higher degree of market risk than diversified funds because of concentration in a specific country.

 

Visit our Glossary of Terms page for definitions and additional information.

Index Definitions

The information contained herein has been derived from sources believed to be reliable and accurate at the time of compilation, but no representation or warranty (express or implied) is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any of this information. Neither the funds nor the Investment Advisor accept any liability for losses either direct or consequential caused by the use of this information.

The views and opinions in the commentary were as of the report date, subject to change and may not reflect current views. They are not guarantees of performance or investment results and should not be taken as investment advice. Investment decisions reflect a variety of factors, and the managers reserve the right to change their views about individual stocks, sectors, and the markets at any time. As a result, the views expressed should not be relied upon as a forecast of the Fund's future investment intent. It should not be assumed that any investment will be profitable or will equal the performance of any securities or any sectors mentioned herein. The information does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any securities mentioned.