AAXJ vs. AFTY

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

AAXJ (iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex-Japan ETF) and AFTY (Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - AAXJ is a Asia Pacific Equities fund tracking the MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Index, while AFTY is a China Equities fund tracking the FTSE China A 50. Both are passively managed. A 0.60 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. AAXJ charges 0.68%/yr vs 0.70%/yr for AFTY.

Performance

AAXJ vs. AFTY - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex-Japan ETF (AAXJ) and Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF (AFTY). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

AAXJ

• 1D: 0.96%
• 1M: 12.09%
• YTD: 32.58%
• 6M: 35.11%
• 1Y: 60.93%
• 3Y*: 24.93%
• 5Y*: 7.46%
• 10Y*: 10.62%

AFTY

• 1D: —
• 1M: —
• YTD: —
• 6M: —
• 1Y: —
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

AAXJ vs. AFTY - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
AAXJ iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex-Japan ETF	32.58%	31.53%	10.41%	4.79%	-20.35%	-5.73%	23.35%	17.93%	-15.04%	41.76%
AFTY Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF	0.00%	0.00%	20.48%	-12.80%	-22.47%	-7.37%	33.77%	44.23%	-24.26%	45.15%

Correlation

The correlation between AAXJ and AFTY is 0.60, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.38
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.54
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.61
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 13, 2015	0.60

The correlation between AAXJ and AFTY shifts across timeframes, from 0.38 (3 years) to 0.61 (10 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.

AAXJ vs. AFTY - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	AAXJ	AFTY
Technology	41.6%	7.4%
Financial Services	17.7%	50.4%
Consumer Cyclical	10.3%	-
Industrials	8.3%	4.7%
Communication Services	6.9%	-
Basic Materials	3.5%	15.5%
Healthcare	3.0%	-
Energy	2.7%	11.5%
Consumer Defensive	2.4%	6.1%
Utilities	1.8%	4.4%
Real Estate	1.7%	-

Return for Risk

AAXJ vs. AFTY — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

AAXJ

AAXJ Risk / Return Rank: 86
AAXJ Sharpe Ratio Rank: 89
AAXJ Sortino Ratio Rank: 85
AAXJ Omega Ratio Rank: 88
AAXJ Calmar Ratio Rank: 84
AAXJ Martin Ratio Rank: 85

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

AAXJ vs. AFTY - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex-Japan ETF (AAXJ) and Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF (AFTY). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.

	AAXJ	AFTY	Difference
Sharpe ratio Return per unit of total volatility	3.03	—	—
Sortino ratio Return per unit of downside risk	3.88	—	—
Omega ratio Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.55	—	—
Calmar ratio Return relative to maximum drawdown	4.58	—	—
Martin ratio Return relative to average drawdown	17.71	—	—
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	AAXJ	AFTY	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	3.03	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.38	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.53	—	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.29	—	—

Drawdowns

Drawdown Indicators

	AAXJ	AFTY	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-49.37%	—	—
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-13.66%	—	—
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-19.74%	—	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-40.74%	—	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-44.52%	—	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	0.00%	—	—
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-14.03%	—	—
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	3.53%	—	—

Volatility

Volatility by Period

	AAXJ	AFTY	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	8.78%	—	—
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	17.42%	—	—
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	20.23%	—	—
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	19.94%	—	—
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	20.25%	—	—

AAXJ vs. AFTY - Expense Ratio Comparison

AAXJ has a 0.68% expense ratio, which is lower than AFTY's 0.70% expense ratio.

Dividends

AAXJ vs. AFTY - Dividend Comparison

AAXJ's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.36%, while AFTY has not paid dividends to shareholders.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
AAXJ iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex-Japan ETF	1.36%	1.81%	1.86%	1.95%	1.74%	2.21%	1.06%	1.83%	2.10%	1.99%	1.77%	2.44%
AFTY Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	2.23%	2.08%	1.84%	1.48%	7.96%	1.85%	6.62%	1.19%	16.76%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both AAXJ and AFTY in my portfolio?

AAXJ and AFTY have a correlation of 0.60, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, AAXJ or AFTY?

On fees, AAXJ is cheaper at 0.68% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, AAXJ or AFTY?

AAXJ is cheaper with a 0.68% expense ratio, compared with 0.70% for AFTY.

Which ETF pays a higher dividend yield, AAXJ or AFTY?

AAXJ has the higher dividend yield at 1.36%, compared with 0.00% for AFTY.

What is the main difference between AAXJ and AFTY?

AAXJ is categorized as Asia Pacific Equities, while AFTY is China Equities. AAXJ tracks MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan Index, while AFTY tracks FTSE China A 50. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Pacer. Their fees differ too: 0.68% for AAXJ and 0.70% for AFTY.