Grow it · ETFs

IKO vs VAE

Compare fees, returns, income and risk for these 2 ASX-listed ETFs side by side.

At a glance

Comparing IKO and VAE. VAE has the lower management fee at 0.4% a year, IKO has the higher 10 years return at 15.4% a year, and IKO offers the higher at 5.3%.
Lower fee
VAE 0.4% p.a.
Higher 10 years return
IKO 15.4% p.a.
Higher yield
IKO 5.3%
Higher risk-adjusted
VAE Sharpe 0.67 (10y)
Lower volatility
VAE 12.5% (10y)
Larger fund
VAE $810m

Side-by-side comparison

Metric IKO
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF
VAE
Vanguard FTSE Asia ex Japan Shares Index ETF
Snapshot
Provider
iShares
Vanguard
Tracks index
—
FTSE Asia Pacific ex Japan, Australia and New Zealand Index
Categories
Asia
Asia, EM, Market-Cap
Listed since
—
2015 (11 yrs)
Fund size (AUM)
$198m
$810m
Cost & income
Management fee
0.45%
0.4%
Dividend yield
5.3%
1.35%
Franking
0%
0%
Turnover
—
5%
Tax drag 1.7% 0.55%
Returns
Tax bracket
1-year return
125.6%
net
22.9%
net
3-year return
45.9%
net
21.2%
net
5-year return
21.2%
net
9.7%
net
10-year return
15.4%
net
10.3%
net
Risk
Volatility (3y)
39.7%
13.9%
Volatility (5y)
34.2%
14.3%
Volatility (10y)
26.6%
12.5%
Sharpe ratio (3y)
1.04
1.16
Sharpe ratio (5y)
0.63
0.49
Sharpe ratio (10y)
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

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 IKO vs VAE?

IKO and VAE are 2 Australian-listed ETFs we compare side by side. VAE carries the lower management fee (0.4%). Over 10 years, IKO has delivered the higher total return (15.4% a year). The table above breaks down fees, returns, income and risk for each.

Which has the lower fees - IKO vs VAE?

VAE has the lower management fee at 0.4% a year, versus IKO 0.45%.

Which has performed higher - IKO vs VAE?

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

Which pays the higher dividend yield?

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

Which is the larger and most liquid?

VAE is the larger fund by assets ($810m). 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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