EWY ETF — iShares MSCI South Korea ETF

iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY)

Updated October 16, 2026.

EWY is an ETF that tracks the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index. its distribution rate is 1.35%, its trailing-12-month yield is 1.35%, its expense ratio is 0.59%. Dividend Vision Distribution Safety Score™ is 56/100 (Caution). Total return is 964.8% over the past 26.4 years, 211.9 points ahead of SPY at 752.9%.

This ETF tracks the MSCI Korea 25/50 Index, providing exposure to large- and mid-capitalization Korean equities. It carries a modest current distribution rate, paid annually, and has an expense ratio of 0.59%. The fund appeals to investors seeking international equity exposure with some income generation.

EWY performance versus SPY

Price and return data through 2026-10-16.

Total return is 964.8% over the past 26.4 years, 211.9 points ahead of SPY at 752.9%. Over the past year its total return — price change plus distributions reinvested — is 75.0%. Its deepest 1-year drawdown was 34.2%.

EWY key facts

Distribution Safety Score™

56 · Caution

Safety-Adjusted Yield

0.76%

Issuer

iShares

Asset type

ETF

Asset class

Equity

Inception date

05/09/2000

Expense ratio

0.59%

Distribution rate

1.35%

Distribution frequency

Annual

Trailing yield

1.35%

Last close

$150.44 (as of 2026-10-16)

AUM

$25,231,088,067

Average volume

20303192.0

Dividend

$2.037

Ex-dividend date

12/16/2025

Payment date

12/19/2025

Beta

2.48

How Dividend Vision calculates yield and returns

Distribution rate (1.35%) uses calculation basis unavailable. Issuer rates can use a different denominator and date, including ex-date NAV. Trailing-12-month yield (1.35%) is the sum of split-adjusted cash distributions with ex-dates in the last 12 months, divided by the published price. It lags a recent raise or cut. Total return uses split-adjusted close with distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date) from the first stored bar on or after inception through the latest bar, compared with the same window on the benchmark. That is the security's total return, not your personal gain/loss.

Yield and safety methodology · Distribution rate methodology · Distribution Safety Score methodology

Sources and review

Primary sources: iShares or company page; Index: MSCI Korea 25/50 Index; prices and distributions from Dividend Vision, derived from vendor EOD data.

Reviewed by Bert Sweet, CEO and Co-owner of Dividend Vision. Methodology: Distribution Safety Score.

EWY risks and drawbacks

EWY's current distribution rate is moderate, not a high-yield payout — the strategy is dividend quality more than maximum income. Payments are annual, so cash flow is lumpy versus a monthly fund. The deepest 1-year drawdown on record here is 34.2%.

Who may consider EWY — and who may not

It is a weaker fit for investors who need monthly cash flow (EWY pays annual); investors hunting double-digit covered-call yields. This is educational context, not a recommendation to buy or sell.

More on EWY

• All tickers starting with E

Tagged: International, Dividend.

Compare EWY

EWY vs similar funds:

• EWY vs SPY
• EWY vs QQQ

Frequently asked questions

More securities from iShares.