Compare iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLB) Price & Performance
Price performance (Past 24H)
Key statistics
Key statistics
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF vs Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund — how do they compare? iShares MSCI South Korea ETF trades at $177.03 (market cap $26.25B), while Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund trades at $49.55 (market cap $7.73B). The key difference: iShares MSCI South Korea ETF is far larger — about 3.4× Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund's market cap, and iShares MSCI South Korea ETF is more actively traded (19,056,075 versus 13,681,146). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold iShares MSCI South Korea ETF for 46 Days and Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund for 70 Days on average.
| EWY | XLB | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $26.25B | $7.73B |
Volume | 19,056,075 | 13,681,146 |
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | — |
52-Week High | $219.20 | $53.67 |
52-Week Low | $80.72 | $42.23 |
Typical Hold Time | 46 Days | 70 Days |
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
Aura AI Summary
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
EWY (iShares MSCI South Korea ETF) is trading at $176.77, down 3.78% amid broader Asian market pressures. The ETF shows a bearish technical signal with moving averages indicating selling pressure, though oversold RSI levels suggest potential near-term support. Recent volatility reflects sensitivity to semiconductor cycles, with heavy concentration in Samsung and SK hynix driving performance. South Korea's KOSPI has struggled to maintain gains above 7,000 despite AI-driven optimism, facing headwinds from rising oil prices and global bond yields.
The outlook remains tied to semiconductor demand and AI infrastructure spending, with corporate earnings showing resilience. Key risks include concentration in two holdings, memory cycle dependency, and macroeconomic pressures. Governance reforms and visible deleveraging provide fundamental support, but the ETF's high sensitivity to tech sector volatility warrants caution for risk-averse investors.
XLB, the Materials Select Sector SPDR ETF, trades at $49.55, up 1.16% today, but technical indicators signal a bearish trend with moving averages and ADX pointing lower. The fund is heavily concentrated in chemicals (49% of assets) and faces cyclical pressures, with recent news highlighting sector volatility amid AI-driven infrastructure demand. Key support sits at $48, while resistance is at $50.
The outlook for XLB is cautious due to sector overvaluation concerns and bearish technicals. Opportunities lie in long-term infrastructure trends, but risks include economic sensitivity and high concentration. Investors should weigh cyclical exposure against potential growth from manufacturing and AI-related material demand.
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Returns comparison
Trailing returns across standard periods
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Investor sentiment on Pluang
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
About iShares MSCI South Korea ETF
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 →About Materials Select Sector SPDR Fund
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.
Read more on XLB →
