Key Highlights

  • iShares Asia 50 ETF (ASX:IAA) held a fund size of $1.71 billion, one of the larger Asia ex-Japan funds on the ASX, having listed on 10 September 2008.
  • Technology is the largest sector at 64.72 per cent, well above the category average of 46.95 per cent.
  • Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is the top holding at 28.47 per cent, ahead of Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.
  • The fund's final distribution of $1.959 per unit produced an annual Yield of 1.56 per cent.

iShares Asia 50 ETF (ASX:IAA) is an ASX-listed fund that seeks to track the S&P Asia 50 Net TR index (AUD), providing exposure to 50 of the largest companies across Asia ex-Japan markets. The fund has been listed on the ASX since 10 September 2008, making it one of the longer-established funds in its category, and sits within the Equity Asia Pacific w/o Japan Morningstar category, with a fund size of $1.71 billion, 8,765,166 units on issue and a management fee of 0.29 per cent.

Sector Composition

IAA's portfolio is heavily weighted toward technology, which represents 64.72 per cent of the fund, well above the category average of 46.95 per cent. Financial services accounts for 15.68 per cent, above the category's 13.96 per cent, while consumer cyclical makes up 8.47 per cent, below the category average of 13.10 per cent. Communication services contributes 7.77 per cent, and industrials just 1.46 per cent, considerably below the category's 7.70 per cent. Healthcare, energy, basic materials and real estate each carry weightings below 1.00 per cent.

By market capitalisation, companies above $1 billion make up 100.00 per cent of the fund, above the category average of 97.02 per cent. The asset mix includes 99.49 per cent in equities and 0.52 per cent in cash, with no bond or other exposure.

Top Holdings

IAA holds 72 companies, with its top 10 positions representing 72.97 per cent of the fund and a Turnover ratio of 0.49 per cent. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing is the largest holding at 28.47 per cent, followed by Samsung Electronics at 14.23 per cent and SK hynix at 10.14 per cent. Tencent Holdings holds a 5.83 per cent weighting, Alibaba Group 4.50 per cent, MediaTek 2.77 per cent, DBS Group Holdings 1.82 per cent, China Construction Bank 1.82 per cent, Samsung Electronics Participating Preferred 1.69 per cent and AIA Group 1.67 per cent.

Geographic Exposure

Taiwan represents the largest country exposure at 38.19 per cent, above the category average of 24.27 per cent. South Korea contributes 30.77 per cent, also above the category's 25.00 per cent, while China makes up 21.83 per cent, below the category average of 30.30 per cent. Singapore contributes 4.35 per cent, Hong Kong 4.48 per cent and the United States 0.37 per cent.

Distribution and Risk Metrics

IAA reported a Beta of 1.38 and a Standard Deviation of 30.24. The fund's most recent final distribution was $1.959 per unit, with an ex-date of 1 July 2026 and a payment date of 13 July 2026, producing an annual yield of 1.56 per cent. The fund's ISIN is AU000000IAA6.

Conclusion

iShares Asia 50 ETF (ASX:IAA) offers exposure to 50 of the largest companies across Asia ex-Japan markets, with a portfolio weighted heavily toward technology and concentrated in Taiwanese and South Korean names. Its low turnover ratio and long listing history distinguish it from more recently launched funds in the same category.