IKO vs IAA vs VAE - Compare ETFs side by side

At a glance

Comparing IKO, IAA, and VAE. IAA has the lowest management fee at 0.29% a year, IKO has the highest 10 years return at 14.7% a year, and IKO offers the highest at 5.84%.

Lowest fee

IAA 0.29% p.a.

Highest 10 years return

IKO 14.7% p.a.

Highest yield

IKO 5.84%

Highest risk-adjusted

IAA Sharpe 0.72 (10y)

Lowest volatility

VAE 12.5% (10y)

Largest fund

IAA $1.7bn

Side-by-side comparison

Metric	IKO iShares MSCI South Korea ETF	IAA iShares Asia 50 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	Asia, Large-Cap, Market-Cap	Asia, EM, Market-Cap
Listed since	—	2007 (19 yrs)	2015 (11 yrs)
Fund size (AUM)	$201m	$1.7bn	$760m
Cost & income
Management fee	0.45%	0.29%	0.4%
Dividend yield	5.84%	1.54%	1.4%
Franking	0%	0%	0%
Turnover	—	5%	5%
Tax drag	1.87%	0.61%	0.57%
Returns	Tax bracket - adjusts tax drag & net returns
1-year return	114.2% net	54.3% net	24.1% net
3-year return	37% net	30.8% net	17.7% net
5-year return	17% net	13.8% net	8.9% net
10-year return	14.7% net	14.5% net	10.2% net
Risk
Volatility (3y)	40.2%	21%	14.2%
Volatility (5y)	34.3%	22.4%	14.4%
Volatility (10y)	26.6%	18%	12.5%
Sharpe ratio (3y)	0.87	1.2	0.94
Sharpe ratio (5y)	0.53	0.55	0.44
Sharpe ratio (10y)	0.56	0.72	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

IKO iShares MSCI South Korea ETF

Top-0% returns over 1 year (1st of 308 ETFs we track).
High 5.84% income yield — good for investors who want regular cash flow.

Cheaper alternatives exist: IAA and VAE.

Full IKO analysis →

IAA iShares Asia 50 ETF

Top-3% returns over 3 years (7th of 226 ETFs we track).
Low-cost: a 0.29% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.

Full IAA analysis →

VAE Vanguard FTSE Asia ex Japan Shares Index ETF

Top-11% returns over 1 year (33rd of 308 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%.

Full VAE analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

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

IKO, IAA, 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 (14.7% a year). The table above breaks down fees, returns, income and risk for each.

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

Over the past 10 years, IKO has delivered the highest total return at 14.7% a year. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.

Which pays the highest dividend yield?

IKO pays the highest at 5.84%. Remember distributions are taxed each year at your marginal rate.

Which is the largest and most liquid?

IAA is the largest fund by assets ($1.7bn). Larger funds are typically more liquid and trade on tighter spreads.

Related comparisons

IAA vs IZZ IAA vs IJP IAA vs VGE IAA vs ASIA IAA vs ASAO IAA vs EAFZ VAE vs IZZ VAE vs VGE

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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.