iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF trades at $113.96 (market cap $12.74B), while Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $49.51 (market cap $7.73B). The key difference: iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF is the larger of the two by market cap, and iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF for 52 Days and Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund for 70 Days on average.
| EWT | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $12.74B | $7.73B |
Volume | 8,470,920 | 13,681,146 |
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | — |
52-Week High | $118.00 | $53.67 |
52-Week Low | $60.03 | $42.23 |
Typical Hold Time | 52 Days | 70 Days |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
EWT trades at $114.01, down 1.92% on the day, with technical indicators showing a bullish trend supported by moving averages while oscillators remain neutral. The ETF maintains strong exposure to Taiwan's semiconductor sector, particularly TSMC, which represents 22.5% of its portfolio. Recent news highlights Taiwan's strategic importance in AI chip manufacturing and ongoing US-Taiwan economic cooperation, with Taiwanese companies planning $20 billion in US investments driven by AI demand (Reuters, 2026-09-02).
The outlook remains positive given Taiwan's central role in AI semiconductor supply chains, though geopolitical tensions with China present significant risks. Analyst sentiment is generally bullish with institutional investors increasing positions, including Bank of America's 22.4% stake increase in Q2 2026. Key support levels at $110-$112 provide downside protection while resistance sits at $115-$117.
XLB trades at $49.49, up 1.04% with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The materials ETF shows neutral oscillators but faces selling pressure with ADX indicators signaling strong trends. Recent news highlights sector concentration risks with chemicals comprising 49% of assets, while infrastructure and manufacturing trends provide support. The ETF remains below its 200-day moving average of $50.93, indicating technical weakness.
Outlook remains cautious as materials sector faces cyclical headwinds with limited upside after recent rebound. Investment opportunity exists in AI-resistant businesses and infrastructure exposure, but risks include heavy concentration in chemicals and moderate overvaluation in construction materials. Wall Street sentiment appears mixed with some analysts viewing current levels as fully valued.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
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 →In seeking to track the performance of the index, the fund employs a replication strategy. It generally invests substantially all, but at least 95%, of its total assets in the securities comprising the index. The index includes securities of companies from the following industries: chemicals; metals and mining; paper and forest products; containers and packaging; and construction materials. The fund is non-diversified.
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