AFTY vs. AAXJ

Last updated Jun 3, 2026

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

Performance

AFTY vs. AAXJ - Performance Comparison

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

Returns By Period

AFTY

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

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%

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

AFTY vs. AAXJ - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
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%
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%

Correlation

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

AFTY vs. AAXJ - Sectors Allocation Comparison

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

Return for Risk

AFTY vs. AAXJ — 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.

AFTY vs. AAXJ - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Pacer CSOP FTSE China A50 ETF (AFTY) and iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex-Japan ETF (AAXJ). 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.

Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	AFTY	AAXJ	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

	AFTY	AAXJ	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

	AFTY	AAXJ	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%	—

AFTY vs. AAXJ - Expense Ratio Comparison

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

Dividends

AFTY vs. AAXJ - Dividend Comparison

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

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 AFTY and AAXJ in my portfolio?

AFTY and AAXJ 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, AFTY or AAXJ?

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, AFTY or AAXJ?

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

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

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

What is the main difference between AFTY and AAXJ?

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