Final Four country ETFs: Spain, France, U.K., Argentina
Spain’s EWP led with a 37.6% one-year return. France’s EWQ is up 2.5% YTD, the U.K.’s EWU 7.5% YTD and Argentina’s ARGT 4.4% YTD.
The World Cup final four-Spain, France, England and Argentina-correspond to single-country exchange-traded funds with differing recent returns. Spain’s iShares MSCI Spain ETF (EWP) posted a one-year return of 37.6% and is up 12% year-to-date. The iShares MSCI France ETF (EWQ) returned 2.5% YTD. The iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) returned 7.5% YTD and 19.6% over the last 12 months. Global X’s MSCI Argentina ETF (ARGT) returned 4.4% YTD and 16.7% over the same one-year span.
EWP tracks the MSCI Spain 25/50 Index and focuses on large- and mid-cap Spanish companies. The fund charges an expense ratio of 0.50% (50 basis points).
EWQ follows the MSCI France Index, invests in firms listed in France and charges an expense ratio of 0.50%.
EWU tracks the MSCI United Kingdom Index, holds stocks listed on the London Stock Exchange, and charges 0.50%.
ARGT tracks the MSCI All Argentina 25/50 Index, charges 0.59% (59 basis points) and provides exposure to Argentine-listed companies. It is the only non-European fund among the four.
All four funds use the ETF structure, which allows intraday trading and standard custody and settlement. Differences in index construction, sector weightings, market-cap focus and expense ratios affect fund behavior and how returns accumulate.
Performance figures are for the most recent 12-month and year-to-date periods for each fund.
Articles by this author
