What Is the ISRA ETF? Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings, and Alternative ETFs at a Glance
The VanEck Israel ETF (ISRA) is a single-country ETF that tracks the BlueStar Israel Global Index, offering concentrated exposure to industries where Israel is strong, such as cybersecurity and pharmaceuticals. Management fees, single-country concentration risk, dividends, and currency exposure are the key selection criteria.
SubscribeWhat Is the VanEck Israel ETF?
It is a single-country ETF that tracks the BlueStar Israel Global Index. It holds a broad range of listed companies classified as being headquartered in Israel, and a distinguishing feature is that it includes not only companies listed in Israel but also Israeli companies listed overseas.
It suits investors who want to concentrate their investment in the Israeli economy and technology industry and are willing to tolerate the high volatility that comes with single-country concentration.
It is a passively managed (index-tracking) ETF run by VanEck.
How Does the VanEck Israel ETF Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracked Index | BlueStar Israel Global Index |
| Management Style | Passive (index tracking) |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Semiannual |
| Dividend Frequency | Annual |
| Total Expense Ratio | 0.59% |
The fund tracks the BlueStar Israel Global Index, which is composed of Israeli companies, and invests most of its assets in the index constituents. It includes both companies listed in Israel and Israeli companies listed overseas, and is designed to reflect the performance of the Israeli economy as a whole.
- Covers Israeli companies listed both domestically and overseas
- Industry mix centered on cybersecurity, pharmaceuticals, and technology
VanEck Israel ETF Size and Costs (AUM and Management Fee)
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $156.1M, and the total expense ratio is 0.59% per year.
Compared with other single-country and regional ETFs, it has a higher weighting in Israel's distinctive technology and cybersecurity sectors, which differentiates its industry mix.
VanEck Israel ETF Performance and Trends
1-Year Price Performance
Dividend & Yield
52-Week Price RangeReturns tend to be highly volatile, depending on the earnings of Israeli technology and pharmaceutical companies and on the geopolitical environment. Given the nature of a single-country ETF, price swings tend to be more pronounced than for globally diversified ETFs.
As a single-country thematic ETF, its fund flows are sensitive to market conditions. Flows tend to react sharply to Middle East geopolitical issues and to shifts in global risk appetite.
VanEck Israel ETF Strengths and Weaknesses
Its strength is concentrated exposure to Israel's technology industry, while single-country concentration and geopolitical risk are the main drawbacks.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
VanEck Israel ETF Alternatives and Related Products
The comparison ETFs shown in the table invest in single countries other than Israel, such as Canada, Germany, Indonesia, and Iceland, so their country exposure and industry mix differ. If you want broad diversification instead of single-country concentration, you could also consider EEM, which invests across emerging markets, or EFA, an ETF covering developed markets outside the US.
Peer Comparison ETFs| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 BBCA | JPMorgan BetaBuilders Canada ETF | $104.43 | -1.5% | $12.1B | 0.19% | 1.68% | +20.0% |
 DAX | Global X DAX Germany ETF | $44.53 | -1.3% | $204.1M | 0.20% | 2.12% | +0.6% |
 IDX | VanEck Indonesia Index ETF | $8.79 | -2.0% | $30.7M | 0.57% | 3.91% | -46.1% |
 GLCR | GlacierShares Nasdaq Iceland ETF | $23.17 | -1.7% | $1.4M | 0.95% | 0.76% | -10.6% |
Top Holdings| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PANW | Palo Alto Networks Inc | 0.13% | $365.79 | -3.9% | $299.5B | 713.7 | - |
| TEVA | Teva- Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd | 0.17% | $42.09 | +1.5% | $49.0B | 70.2 | - |
| ESLT | Elbit Systems Ltd | 0.11% | $779.68 | -3.4% | $36.5B | 58.8 | 0.51% |
 TSEM | Tower Semiconductor Ltd | 0.08% | $166.48 | -11.4% | $18.9B | 65.7 | - |
 CHKP | Check Point Software Technologies Ltd | 0.03% | $152.02 | -1.0% | $15.5B | 15.6 | - |
 MYMK | State Street My2031 Municipal Bond ETF | 0.03% | $24.67 | +0.1% | $0.0M | - | 2.61% |
 NVMI | Nova Ltd | 0.02% | $312.24 | -6.7% | $9.9B | 38.9 | - |
VanEck Israel ETF Investor Checkpoints
Here are the points to review before investing in ISRA. Because it is a single-country ETF, you should carefully check country concentration, geopolitical variables, management fees, and currency effects in advance. It is also advisable to consider how much of your portfolio to allocate to satellite assets.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 💵 Expense Ratio | Check the fee level for a single-country ETF | On the higher side |
| 🌍 Country Concentration | Single-country exposure to Israel | High concentration |
| ⚠️ Geopolitics | Impact of Middle East risk | Needs review |
| 💱 Currency | Impact of dollar and shekel exchange rates | No currency hedge applied |
Single-country concentration and geopolitical variables are the main drivers of short-term volatility. Swings can widen depending on conditions in the Middle East, and exchange rate movements also affect returns when converted into won.
It is a suitable choice for investors who want to concentrate their investment in the Israeli economy and technology industry. However, it is advisable to use it as a satellite asset in a portfolio only after fully understanding single-country concentration and geopolitical risk.
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 June 25, 2026.
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