iShares MSCI South Korea ETF vs iShares Russell 2000 ETF — how do they compare? iShares MSCI South Korea ETF trades at $164.3, while iShares Russell 2000 ETF trades at $295.54. The key difference: iShares Russell 2000 ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares MSCI South Korea ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| EWY | IWM | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | — |
52-Week High | $219.20 | $300.45 |
52-Week Low | $70.65 | $214.95 |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
EWY is trading at $163.67, down 7.52% with significant volatility driven by its heavy concentration in South Korean semiconductor giants Samsung and SK Hynix. The ETF has entered bear market territory, reflecting global tech sector pressures and foreign investor selling. Technical indicators show bearish momentum with RSI near oversold levels at 28, while support sits at $157. Recent news highlights the Kospi Index's 21% decline from YTD highs, creating both risk and potential opportunity.
The outlook remains challenged by semiconductor cycle volatility and concentrated exposure, but long-term AI demand fundamentals provide potential upside. Key risks include single-stock concentration, foreign capital flows, and global tech sentiment shifts. Investors should weigh near-term volatility against structural semiconductor growth drivers.
IWM trades at $295.49, up 0.35% today, with technical indicators showing a bullish trend from moving averages while oscillators remain neutral. The ETF has gained significant attention for outperforming large-cap benchmarks year-to-date, driven by renewed investor interest in small-cap stocks amid shifting interest rate expectations. Recent news highlights strong flows into small-cap ETFs, though some analysts caution about valuation traps and moderating growth.
Outlook remains positive given small-caps' historical performance during economic expansions, but risks include higher volatility, sensitivity to interest rates, and concentration concerns. The ETF's expense ratio of 0.19% is competitive, though slightly higher than some alternatives. Continued outperformance hinges on sustained economic growth and favorable monetary policy.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
EWY tracks the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index, offering targeted exposure to large and mid-cap companies in South Korea. It is structurally centered on the global technology supply chain, industrials, and financial services, serving as a liquid tool for investors seeking a single-country view of this advanced, innovation-led economy.
Read more on EWY →The ETF is designed to track the performance of the securities and the stocks in the Russell 2000 Index. To maintain the composition and weightings, the advisor adjusts the ETF from time to time to conform to periodic changes in the index target.
Read more on IWM →