A side-by-side comparison of iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF (AAXJ) and iShares Asia 50 ETF (AIA) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | AAXJ | AIA |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -8.43% | -7.74%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | -1.22%✓ | -1.75% |
| 1-Week Change | +2.96% | +3.98%✓ |
| 1-Month Change | -6.38% | -7.46%✓ |
| Current Price | $109.01 | $131.56 |
| AUM | $3.70B | $4.67B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.69% | 0.49%✓ |
| Dividend Yield | 1.30%✓ | 0.91% |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | NA |
| Inception Date | 2008-08-13 | 2007-11-13 |
| Holdings Count | 945 | 53 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Unclassified | Unclassified |
| Beta | 1.02 | 1.13 |
| 52-Week High | $124.89 | $150.82 |
| 52-Week Low | $86.59 | $89.07 |
| 50-Day MA | $115.01 | $138.59 |
| 200-Day MA | $110.04 | $127.95 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | AAXJ | AIA |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -8.43% | -7.74%✓ |
| 1 Year | +15.01% | +32.33%✓ |
| 3 Year | +23.35% | +38.29%✓ |
| 5 Year | +6.74% | +12.86%✓ |
| 10 Year | +8.03% | +13.00%✓ |
| 1Y Volatility | 23.36% | 27.88% |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.19 | 1.60 |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | 2330 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | 18.12% |
| 2 | 005930 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 7.92% |
| 3 | 000660 | SK Hynix Inc | 5.67% |
| 4 | 0700 | Tencent Holdings Ltd | 2.82% |
| 5 | 9988 | Alibaba Group Holding Ltd | 2.01% |
| 6 | 2454 | MediaTek Inc | 1.77% |
| 7 | D05 | DBS Group Holdings Ltd | 1.24% |
| 8 | 0939 | China Construction Bank Corp | 1.09% |
| 9 | 005935 | Samsung Electronics Co Pref | 1.05% |
| 10 | 1299 | AIA Group Ltd | 0.93% |
| 1 | 2330 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | 24.74% |
| 2 | 005930 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 13.75% |
| 3 | 000660 | SK Hynix Inc | 6.24% |
| 4 | 9988 | Alibaba Group Holding Ltd | 4.43% |
| 5 | 0700 | Tencent Holdings Ltd | 4.36% |
| 6 | 2454 | MediaTek Inc | 3.95% |
| 7 | 0939 | China Construction Bank Corp | 2.70% |
| 8 | D05 | DBS Group Holdings Ltd | 2.35% |
| 9 | 1299 | AIA Group Ltd | 2.04% |
| 10 | 2317 | Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd | 1.94% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | AAXJ | AIA |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 3.26% | 1.29% |
| Communication Services | 5.95% | 6.63% |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 8.22% | 8.49% |
| Consumer Defensive | 1.98% | 0.00% |
| Energy | 2.28% | 0.48% |
| Financial Services | 19.06% | 18.70% |
| Healthcare | 3.05% | 0.48% |
| Industrials | 6.54% | 1.83% |
| Real Estate | 1.43% | 0.38% |
| Technology | 45.30% | 61.60% |
| Utilities | 1.63% | 0.00% |
About AAXJ
The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of the index. The index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of securities from the following 10 developed and emerging market countries or regions: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, So…
About AIA
The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its underlying index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of its underlying index and may invest up to 20% of its assets in certain futures, options and swap contracts, cash and cash equivalents. It is non-diversified.
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both AAXJ and AIA are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, AIA scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between AAXJ and AIA?
AAXJ (iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF) and AIA (iShares Asia 50 ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($3.70B vs $4.67B), dividend yield (1.30% vs 0.91%), and year-to-date performance (-8.43% vs -7.74%).
Is AAXJ better than AIA?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy AAXJ and AIA on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both AAXJ and AIA should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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