AIA ETF Explained: Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings, and Alternative ETFs
The iShares Asia 50 ETF (AIA) is a passive ETF that diversifies across large-cap stocks in Asian Tiger economies such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. Key selection factors are its exposure to semiconductor-related stocks, its semiannual dividend, and how it compares with related funds such as VPL and EZU.
SubscribeWhat Is the iShares Asia 50 ETF?
The fund tracks the S&P Asia 50 Index and invests broadly in large-cap stocks of Asian Tiger economies such as Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan, using a market-cap-weighted approach.
It suits medium- to long-term investors who want to diversify across large-cap stocks in Asia outside the United States.
It is a passive (index-tracking) ETF managed by iShares (BlackRock).
How Does the iShares Asia 50 ETF Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracked Index | S&P Asia 50 |
| Management Style | Passive (index tracking) |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Regular rebalancing |
| Dividend Frequency | Semiannual |
| Total Expense Ratio | 0.50% |
The fund invests most of its assets in the index constituents and in assets with substantially identical economic characteristics, while a portion is held in derivatives such as futures, options, and swaps, as well as cash equivalents. As a non-diversified fund, it can carry large weightings in particular countries or sectors.
- Diversified exposure across the Asian Tiger region rather than a single country
- A regional index with a high weighting in semiconductor and platform large caps
iShares Asia 50 ETF Size and Costs (AUM and Management Fee)
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $4.5B, and the total expense ratio is 0.50% per year.
Compared with VPL, another Asia Pacific regional ETF, its country composition is more narrowly concentrated, which makes a difference in the breadth of regional diversification.
iShares Asia 50 ETF Performance and Trends
1-Year Price Performance
Dividend & Yield
52-Week Price RangeBecause large Asian technology and semiconductor companies carry a heavy weighting, the fund tends to move with global semiconductor demand and technology stock trends, and it sometimes shows price patterns different from the US market.
Inflows tend to arrive when demand for Asian regional diversification rises, and its performance is influenced by shifts in emerging-market asset preferences during periods of dollar strength or weakness.
iShares Asia 50 ETF Pros and Cons
Exposure to large Asian stocks and semiconductor-related stocks is its strength, while concentration in a few countries and sectors is a risk factor.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
iShares Asia 50 ETF Alternatives and Related Products
The two products in the table, VPL and ILF, are broad regional ETFs that extend exposure to the entire Asia Pacific region including Japan, and to Latin America outside Asia, respectively. EZU invests in Europe and can be considered alongside it from a regional allocation perspective, and if you want an emerging-region growth theme, CGNG could also be an alternative.
Peer Comparison ETFs| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 EZU | iShares MSCI EMU ETF | $64.93 | +0.5% | $9.1B | 0.50% | 2.84% | +3.6% |
 VPL | Vanguard FTSE Pacific ETF | $109.29 | +0.4% | $8.5B | 0.07% | 2.21% | +20.2% |
 ILF | iShares Latin America 40 ETF | $33.48 | -11.2% | $4.0B | 0.47% | 2.91% | +17.7% |
 BDYN | iShares Dynamic Equity Active ETF | $27.42 | +0.8% | $3.1B | 0.39% | 0.32% | +8.4% |
 CGNG | Capital Group New Geography Equity ETF | $33.61 | -0.7% | $3.0B | 0.64% | 0.65% | +6.5% |
Top Holdings| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSM | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ADR | 0.47% | $424.37 | +1.4% | $2.20T | 27.3 | 0.97% |
| SKHY | SK Hynix Inc ADR | 0.05% | $142.62 | +4.1% | $1.04T | 9.3 | 0.36% |
| BABA | Alibaba Group Holding Ltd ADR | 0.08% | $100.25 | +0.6% | $249.4B | 23.6 | 1.11% |
| ASX | ASE Technology Holding CoLtd ADR | 0.02% | $39.91 | +3.1% | $87.8B | 46.7 | 1.56% |
 BMRC | Bank of Marin Bancorp | 0.01% | $27.80 | +2.5% | $450.1M | - | 3.6% |
 PASW | Ping An Biomedical Co Ltd | 0.01% | $4.48 | -5.9% | $14.0M | - | - |
| JD | JD.com Inc ADR | 0.01% | $25.24 | -0.5% | $30.4B | 17.0 | 3.6% |
 NTB | Bank of N T Butterfield & Son Ltd | 0.01% | $59.95 | +0.1% | $2.4B | 10.6 | 3.34% |
iShares Asia 50 ETF Investor Checkpoints
Here are the points to review before investing in AIA. Although it is an Asian regional diversification product, it is wise to confirm country and sector concentration, currency fluctuations, and the semiannual dividend schedule before investing.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 💵 Expense Ratio | Check the impact of cumulative costs over a long holding period | Fee applies |
| 🌏 Country Weighting | Trend in the weightings of included countries such as Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan | Large weighting in certain countries |
| 💱 Exchange Rate | Impact on returns converted into Korean won | Currency hedge not applied |
| 💰 Dividend Frequency | Check the semiannual dividend schedule | Semiannual payments maintained |
Concentration in particular countries and sectors, political and regulatory variables unique to emerging markets, and currency fluctuations are the main drivers of short-term volatility. During a slowdown in the global semiconductor industry, declines can deepen because of the weighting in related large-cap stocks.
It is a core product suited to investors who want to diversify across large Asian stocks at the regional level. If you want broader Asia Pacific exposure, VPL is worth considering, and if you also want diversification into other regions, EZU and ILF are also useful comparisons.
SubscribeDisclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.
This article reflects information as of July 2, 2026.
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