EWC vs EWH

EWCAiShares MSCI Canada ETF

EWHCiShares MSCI Hong Kong ETF

In short

EWC A 1996 original: Canada's large and mid caps in one ticker, back when single-country funds were still a novelty. About 80 names, held through a capped MSCI index built so one giant can't swamp the basket.

EWH Hong Kong in a single US ticker, listed back in 1996. Roughly two dozen large Hong Kong companies tracking MSCI's Hong Kong 25-50 index, from the first generation of single-country funds.

Stated mandate

EWC The fund seeks to track an index representing Canadian equities, providing exposure to large- and mid-sized companies in Canada.

EWH The fund seeks to track an index of Hong Kong equities, providing targeted exposure to companies in Hong Kong.

Why people hold it

• EWC Running since 1996, which makes it one of the oldest US-listed ETFs still trading, and it is a multi-billion-dollar fund today.
• Tracks the MSCI Canada Custom Capped Index closely, one of the tighter index-following records in its single-country developed peer group.ishares.com
• Actively traded with among the easiest fills in its peer group, so the cost of getting in and out stays modest.
• The capped index trims outsized single-name weights, so roughly 80 holdings stay a basket rather than a wager on two or three giants.ishares.com

• EWH One ticker, one city: targeted exposure to Hong Kong companies rather than a broad China blend, tracking the MSCI Hong Kong 25-50 Index.ishares.com
• Trading since March 1996, one of the longest continuously running single-country ETFs on the US market.
• A multibillion-dollar, actively traded iShares fund, so getting in and out is usually straightforward.

Worth knowing

• EWC At 0.50%, the fee sits right at the median for single-country developed funds, and cheaper Canada exposure exists: BBCA runs 0.19%.
• One country, about 80 stocks: a concentrated slice of the world, with Canadian dollar moves riding along in your US-dollar return.ishares.com
• Distributions land once or twice a year rather than monthly or quarterly, so income arrives in lumps.

• EWH 0.50% a year sits above the median index tracker in its peer group, and well above core baskets like SCHK (0.03%) and VT (0.06%).
• Roughly two dozen holdings tied to one city's economy, so a handful of large names and Hong Kong's own cycle drive the ride.
• Distributions arrive once or twice a year, not monthly.

Full EWC profile⁠

Full EWH profile⁠