Grow it · ETFs

IAA vs IKO vs VAE

Compare fees, returns, income and risk for these 3 ASX-listed ETFs side by side.

At a glance

Comparing IAA, IKO, and VAE. IAA has the lowest management fee at 0.29% a year, IKO has the highest 10 years return at 15.4% a year, and IKO offers the highest at 5.3%.
Lowest fee
IAA 0.29% p.a.
Highest 10 years return
IKO 15.4% p.a.
Highest yield
IKO 5.3%
Highest risk-adjusted
IAA Sharpe 0.72 (10y)
Lowest volatility
VAE 12.5% (10y)
Largest fund
IAA $1.8bn

Side-by-side comparison

Metric IAA
iShares Asia 50 ETF
IKO
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF
VAE
Vanguard FTSE Asia ex Japan Shares Index ETF
Snapshot
Provider
iShares
iShares
Vanguard
Tracks index
MSCI AC Asia 50 Index
—
FTSE Asia Pacific ex Japan, Australia and New Zealand Index
Categories
Asia, Large-Cap, Market-Cap
Asia
Asia, EM, Market-Cap
Listed since
2007 (19 yrs)
—
2015 (11 yrs)
Fund size (AUM)
$1.8bn
$198m
$810m
Cost & income
Management fee
0.29%
0.45%
0.4%
Dividend yield
1.46%
5.3%
1.35%
Franking
0%
0%
0%
Turnover
5%
—
5%
Tax drag 0.59% 1.7% 0.55%
Returns
Tax bracket
1-year return
48.7%
net
125.6%
net
22.9%
net
3-year return
37.2%
net
45.9%
net
21.2%
net
5-year return
16.3%
net
21.2%
net
9.7%
net
10-year return
14.5%
net
15.4%
net
10.3%
net
Risk
Volatility (3y)
20.3%
39.7%
13.9%
Volatility (5y)
22.3%
34.2%
14.3%
Volatility (10y)
18%
26.6%
12.5%
Sharpe ratio (3y)
1.47
1.04
1.16
Sharpe ratio (5y)
0.64
0.63
0.49
Sharpe ratio (10y)
0.72
0.58
0.67
Bid/ask spread
—
—
—

marks the strongest fund in each row. “net” shows the after-tax return at your selected bracket. “—” means we don’t have that data point yet.

Each fund at a glance

IAA iShares Asia 50 ETF
  • Top-3% returns over 3 years (7th of 236 ETFs we track).
  • Low-cost: a 0.29% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
IKO iShares MSCI South Korea ETF
  • Top-0% returns over 1 year (1st of 318 ETFs we track).
  • Pays a useful 5.3% income yield.
  • Cheaper alternatives exist: IAA and VAE.
VAE Vanguard FTSE Asia ex Japan Shares Index ETF
  • Top-9% returns over 1 year (30th of 318 ETFs we track).
  • Low-cost: a 0.4% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
  • Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.3%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between IAA vs IKO vs VAE?

IAA, IKO, and VAE are 3 Australian-listed ETFs we compare side by side. IAA carries the lowest management fee (0.29%). Over 10 years, IKO has delivered the highest total return (15.4% a year). The table above breaks down fees, returns, income and risk for each.

Which has the lowest fees - IAA vs IKO vs VAE?

IAA has the lowest management fee at 0.29% a year, versus IKO 0.45% and VAE 0.4%.

Which has performed highest - IAA vs IKO vs VAE?

Over the past 10 years, IKO has delivered the highest total return at 15.4% a year. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Which pays the highest dividend yield?

IKO pays the highest at 5.3%. Remember distributions are taxed each year at your marginal rate.

Which is the largest and most liquid?

IAA is the largest fund by assets ($1.8bn). Larger funds are typically more liquid and trade on tighter spreads.

Related comparisons

General information only, generated from each fund's published data — not personal financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Consider your own circumstances or seek licensed advice before investing.

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