iShares MSCI South Korea ETF vs United Microelectronics Corp — how do they compare? iShares MSCI South Korea ETF trades at $175, while United Microelectronics Corp trades at $19.43 (market cap $47.81B). The key difference: United Microelectronics Corp pays a 2.12% dividend while iShares MSCI South Korea ETF pays none, and iShares MSCI South Korea ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, United Microelectronics Corp nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| EWY | UMC | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | Technology |
52-Week High | $219.20 | $28.02 |
52-Week Low | $71.22 | $6.58 |
Market Cap | — | $47.81B |
Enterprise Value | — | $44.93B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.12% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
EWY, the iShares MSCI South Korea ETF, trades at $174.49, up 6.97% in 24 hours, with a neutral technical signal overall. Recent news highlights South Korea's semiconductor sector volatility and government support initiatives, including a $3.52 billion fund for chip materials. The ETF's performance is tied to heavyweights like Samsung and SK Hynix, which have faced sharp declines amid AI-driven market swings.
Outlook remains cautious due to sector concentration risks and foreign capital outflows, but long-term potential exists if semiconductor demand stabilizes. Investors face volatility from leveraged ETF speculation curbs and global tech sentiment shifts, requiring careful risk assessment amid mixed analyst views.
UMC trades at $18.79, up 0.37% today, with a bearish technical signal. Recent earnings beats and strong July 2026 sales growth of 18.98% year-over-year highlight operational momentum. The company is expanding capacity in Singapore and Taiwan to meet AI-driven demand, supported by a robust balance sheet with $115.24 billion in cash. However, net income margin has declined from 32.1% in 2022 to 16.99% in 2025, posing a concern.
The outlook is mixed; expansion initiatives and AI tailwinds offer growth potential, but margin compression and a bearish technical stance present risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with 53.33% hold ratings. Key catalysts include Q3 2026 earnings and fab expansion progress, while competitive pressures and macroeconomic volatility remain headwinds.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →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.
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