iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF vs United Microelectronics Corp — how do they compare? iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF trades at $99.99, while United Microelectronics Corp trades at $22.28 (market cap $65.12B). The key difference: United Microelectronics Corp pays a 1.65% dividend while iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| EWT | UMC | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | Technology |
52-Week High | $111.53 | $28.02 |
52-Week Low | $58.05 | $6.58 |
Market Cap | — | $65.12B |
Enterprise Value | — | $62.70B |
Dividend Yield | — | 1.65% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
The iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (EWT) trades at $100.08, down 1.77% on the day, consolidating after a significant rally that saw the fund more than double over the past year. Technical indicators show a neutral overall signal with mixed moving average and oscillator readings, while the fund remains strategically positioned at the center of the global AI infrastructure surge through its heavy exposure to Taiwan's semiconductor sector, led by TSMC.
The outlook for EWT is balanced between strong fundamental tailwinds from AI-driven semiconductor demand and significant geopolitical risks related to Taiwan-China tensions. While the fund offers concentrated exposure to a critical technology supply chain, stretched valuations and potential currency headwinds create near-term uncertainty for investors.
UMC trades at $22.26, down 6.63% over the past day, with a bullish technical signal driven by moving averages and positive momentum indicators. The company reported Q1 2026 EPS of $0.20, beating expectations, and maintains strong profitability with a 20.25% net income margin. Recent news highlights mass production milestones in silicon photonics and 14nm eHV FinFET platform advancements, supporting growth in AI and automotive demand.
Outlook remains positive with solid revenue growth and margin stability, though valuation ratios like P/E of 40.46 suggest premium pricing. Risks include competitive pressures and cyclical semiconductor demand. Analyst consensus is mixed with 26.7% buy ratings, indicating cautious optimism amid high expectations.
Trailing returns across standard periods
EWT tracks the MSCI Taiwan 25/50 Index, providing targeted exposure to large and mid-cap companies in Taiwan. It is heavily concentrated in the information technology sector, serving as a liquid instrument for investors seeking a single-country view of Taiwan's export-oriented and tech-driven economy.
Read more on EWT →Founded in 1980, United Microelectronics is the world's third-largest dedicated chip foundry, with 7% market share in 2021, according to Gartner, after TSMC and GlobalFoundries. UMC's headquarters are in Hsinchu, Taiwan, and it operates 12 fabs in Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan and Singapore, with additional sales offices in Europe, the U.S. and South Korea. UMC features a diverse customer base including Texas Instruments, MediaTek, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Xilinx and Realtek, supplying a wide range of products applied in communications, display, memory, automotive and more. UMC employs about 20,000 people.
Read more on UMC →