EWU vs. PBEU
EWU (iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF) and PBEU (Portfolio Building Block European Banks Index ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - EWU is a Europe Equities fund tracking the MSCI United Kingdom Index, while PBEU is a Financials Equities fund tracking the BITA European Banks Index. Both are passively managed. A 0.76 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. EWU charges 0.50%/yr vs 0.13%/yr for PBEU.
Performance
EWU vs. PBEU - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, EWU achieves a 8.26% return, which is significantly lower than PBEU's 16.21% return.
EWU
- 1D
- -0.06%
- 1M
- 2.22%
- 6M
- 5.38%
- YTD
- 8.26%
- 1Y
- 21.85%
- 3Y*
- 17.14%
- 5Y*
- 12.04%
- 10Y*
- 8.36%
PBEU
- 1D
- -0.84%
- 1M
- 2.54%
- 6M
- 12.77%
- YTD
- 16.21%
- 1Y
- —
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
EWU vs. PBEU - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
EWU iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF | 8.26% | 6.94% |
PBEU Portfolio Building Block European Banks Index ETF | 16.21% | 11.42% |
Correlation
The correlation between EWU and PBEU is 0.76, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 25, 2025 | 0.76 |
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Return for Risk
EWU vs. PBEU — Risk / Return Rank
EWU
PBEU
Risk / return metrics aren't available yet — we need at least 12 months of trading data to calculate them.
EWU vs. PBEU - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (EWU) and Portfolio Building Block European Banks Index ETF (PBEU). 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.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| EWU | PBEU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | — | — | |
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | — | — | |
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.26 | — | — |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.21 | — | — |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.26 | — | — |
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Drawdowns
EWU vs. PBEU - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum EWU drawdown since its inception was -63.99%, which is greater than PBEU's maximum drawdown of -17.26%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for EWU and PBEU.
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Drawdown Indicators
| EWU | PBEU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -63.99% | -17.26% | -46.73% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.92% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.63% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -24.91% | — | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.33% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.19% | -1.54% | -0.65% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -14.12% | -3.70% | -10.42% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.02% | — | — |
Volatility
EWU vs. PBEU - Volatility Comparison
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Volatility by Period
| EWU | PBEU | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.01% | — | — |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.80% | — | — |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.84% | 26.92% | -12.08% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.42% | 26.92% | -10.50% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 18.21% | 26.92% | -8.71% |
EWU vs. PBEU - Expense Ratio Comparison
EWU has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is higher than PBEU's 0.13% expense ratio.
Dividends
EWU vs. PBEU - Dividend Comparison
EWU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.19%, more than PBEU's 0.01% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EWU iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF | 3.19% | 3.73% | 4.16% | 4.14% | 3.43% | 4.35% | 2.48% | 4.13% | 4.98% | 3.91% | 3.97% | 4.11% |
PBEU Portfolio Building Block European Banks Index ETF | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Frequently Asked Questions
EWU and PBEU have a correlation of 0.76, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
On fees, PBEU is cheaper at 0.13% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
PBEU is cheaper with a 0.13% expense ratio, compared with 0.50% for EWU.
EWU has the higher dividend yield at 3.19%, compared with 0.01% for PBEU.
EWU is categorized as Europe Equities, while PBEU is Financials Equities. EWU tracks MSCI United Kingdom Index, while PBEU tracks BITA European Banks Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Portfolio Building Block. Their fees differ too: 0.50% for EWU and 0.13% for PBEU.
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