The iShares MSCI Australia ETF (EWA) is an exchange-traded fund designed to track the performance of leading publicly traded companies in Australia. The ETF is managed by BlackRock through the iShares platform and trades under the ticker EWA on the NYSE Arca.

Classified as an equity ETF, the fund invests in large- and mid-cap Australian companies. Its strategy provides exposure to the Australian economy through leading businesses operating in sectors such as financials, materials, mining, healthcare, and consumer industries.

The ETF follows a passive management strategy and seeks to replicate the performance of the MSCI Australia 25/50 Index, which consists of large- and mid-cap Australian equities while applying concentration limits required under U.S. regulated investment company rules.

Diversification and sector exposure

EWA provides exposure primarily associated with:

• Large- and mid-cap Australian companies.

• Financials.

• Materials.

• Mining.

• Healthcare.

• Consumer sectors.

• Energy.

• Australian equity market.

The portfolio includes companies that represent key segments of the Australian economy, providing single-country exposure while maintaining diversification across multiple industries.

The ETF's performance generally reflects both the Australian equity market and country-specific factors, including developments in the mining industry and the country's commodity export sector.

Structure and costs

EWA shares trade on the secondary market on the NYSE Arca during regular trading hours. Share creation and redemption occur through authorized participants, helping keep the ETF's market price aligned with its net asset value (NAV).

The fund charges a management fee as outlined in its prospectus and does not apply a performance fee. Dividends received from portfolio holdings may be distributed periodically to shareholders according to the fund's distribution policy.

History and evolution of the ETF

The iShares MSCI Australia ETF was launched in 1996 to provide investors with convenient access to the Australian equity market through a single exchange-traded fund. Since inception, the fund has tracked the MSCI Australia 25/50 Index, reflecting the performance of Australia's leading publicly traded companies.

Over time, the ETF has been influenced by commodity market cycles, Australia's economic growth, global demand for natural resources, and conditions across international financial markets.

Additional Information

iShares MSCI Australia ETF (United States) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF), with assets under management totaling $1.35 billion.

Over the past 12 months, iShares MSCI Australia ETF recorded a return of 15.41%, with its price trading between $24.95 and $30.26 during the same period.

The ETF is traded under the ticker EWA.