Is FASI a good ETF?
FASI is the Fidelity Asia Active ETF from Fidelity. We classify it under Asia and Active. With about $29 million in assets it is a relatively small fund (worth checking spreads and liquidity before buying).
On a total-return basis, FASI has delivered 5.87% a year over 1 year (ranked 173rd of 308 ETFs we track).
The management fee of 1.15% is high, which is common for active, geared or thematic strategies and only worth paying if the approach justifies it. For comparison, similar ETFs average around 0.85%. If cost is your priority, IAA (0.29%), VAE (0.4%), and IZZ (0.6%) cover similar ground for less. It pays a high 6.8% yield — generous income, but check it isn't a sign of a narrow or higher-risk portfolio. Bear in mind distributions are taxed each year at your marginal rate, so a high yield is less tax-efficient for higher earners and during the accumulation phase.
Strengths
- High 6.8% income yield — good for investors who want regular cash flow.
Things to watch
- A 1.15% management fee is high and compounds against you over time.
- Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.85%.
- Cheaper alternatives exist: IAA, VAE, and IZZ.
- That income is taxed yearly at your marginal rate, so it's less efficient for higher earners.
What FASI's categories mean for you
How each category this ETF belongs to tends to behave across market cycles.
Equities across Asian markets (often ex-Japan, frequently weighted to China, India, Taiwan and Korea). Exposure to faster-growing economies, with extra political, currency and governance risk.
- Market regime
- Tends to lead during global risk-on phases and when the US dollar is weak; lags badly in risk-off, flight-to-safety episodes.
- In a portfolio
- Best used as a satellite position to add growth and diversification, not as a core holding. Long horizon and tolerance for big swings required.
Actively managed: a portfolio manager hand-picks holdings trying to beat the index, rather than simply tracking it. You pay more in fees for the chance of outperformance.
- Market regime
- Can add value in volatile, falling or inefficient markets where stock-picking and downside protection matter. In long, broad bull markets most active funds struggle to keep up with the cheap index after fees.
- In a portfolio
- Only worth holding if you have genuine conviction in the strategy — decades of evidence show the majority of active funds underperform their benchmark over 10+ years once fees are counted.
General information only, generated from the 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.