iShares MSCI South Africa ETF vs iShares Semiconductor ETF — how do they compare? iShares MSCI South Africa ETF trades at $63.75 (market cap $455.34M), while iShares Semiconductor ETF trades at $559.78 (market cap $48.19B). The key difference: iShares Semiconductor ETF is far larger — about 105.8× iShares MSCI South Africa ETF's market cap, and iShares Semiconductor ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, iShares MSCI South Africa ETF nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold iShares MSCI South Africa ETF for 70 Days and iShares Semiconductor ETF for 46 Days on average.
| EZA | SOXX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $455.34M | $48.19B |
Volume | 148,692 | 10,257,578 |
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | Sector/Thematic |
52-Week High | $81.60 | $655.01 |
52-Week Low | $60.43 | $268.10 |
Typical Hold Time | 70 Days | 46 Days |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
EZA trades at $62.29, down 2.15% today, with a bearish technical signal driven by moving averages. The ETF's portfolio faces headwinds from global reflation impacting its heavy exposure to South African gold, banking, and platinum group metals. Key oscillators like the 6-day and 12-day relative strength index indicate oversold conditions, suggesting potential for a near-term bounce, but the average directional index signals a strong downtrend.
The outlook is cautious due to macroeconomic pressures on constituent companies, with risks from higher capital costs and commodity price volatility. Investment opportunity hinges on a reversal in global yield curves and commodity markets, but current sentiment remains negative amid sell-side dominance and lack of positive fundamental catalysts.
SOXX trades at $559.40, down 4.04% over the past 24 hours, with technical indicators showing a bullish moving average signal but neutral oscillators. The semiconductor ETF faces mixed sentiment with strong AI-driven earnings growth projections but concerns about valuation premiums. Recent corporate actions include a 1:3 stock split scheduled for November 2026 and a $0.33 dividend payment in September 2026.
The outlook remains cautiously optimistic with AI infrastructure demand driving earnings growth, though high valuations and bearish bets from notable investors like Michael Burry present significant risks. Wall Street analysts maintain positive ratings based on semiconductor market expansion projections, with Bank of America forecasting near-doubling of the global chip market by 2030.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
Latest headlines on both assets
EZA is a country-specific ETF that tracks the South African equity market. It provides exposure to large and mid-cap companies across key sectors like materials and financials, with top holdings such as AngloGold Ashanti and Naspers.
Read more on EZA →SOXX provides investors with exposure to U.S. companies that design, manufacture, and distribute semiconductors. It tracks the ICE Semiconductor Index, offering a targeted investment in the technology sector's foundational components, including firms that produce chips, related equipment, and services. SOXX is a key vehicle for investors seeking to capitalize on trends in artificial intelligence, 5G, and other technologies that rely heavily on advanced semiconductor technology.
Read more on SOXX →