KSA vs. FLSA
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) and Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF (FLSA).
KSA and FLSA are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. KSA is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Saudi Arabia Investable Market Index (IMI) 25/50 Index. It was launched on Sep 16, 2015. FLSA is a passively managed fund by Franklin Templeton that tracks the performance of the FTSE Saudi Arabia RIC Capped Index. It was launched on Oct 9, 2018. Both KSA and FLSA are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Performance
KSA vs. FLSA - Performance Comparison
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KSA vs. FLSA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KSA iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF | 9.17% | -8.20% | -0.19% | 15.05% | -6.06% | 33.62% | 2.65% | 9.30% | 3.64% |
FLSA Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF | 9.11% | -7.15% | -0.29% | 12.99% | -3.58% | 35.72% | 3.73% | 9.46% | 2.95% |
Returns By Period
The year-to-date returns for both stocks are quite close, with KSA having a 9.17% return and FLSA slightly lower at 9.11%.
KSA
- 1D
- 2.47%
- 1M
- 6.94%
- YTD
- 9.17%
- 6M
- -0.86%
- 1Y
- -1.07%
- 3Y*
- 3.88%
- 5Y*
- 4.57%
- 10Y*
- 8.88%
FLSA
- 1D
- 2.36%
- 1M
- 6.79%
- YTD
- 9.11%
- 6M
- 0.01%
- 1Y
- -0.07%
- 3Y*
- 3.84%
- 5Y*
- 5.24%
- 10Y*
- —
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KSA vs. FLSA - Expense Ratio Comparison
KSA has a 0.74% expense ratio, which is higher than FLSA's 0.39% expense ratio.
Return for Risk
KSA vs. FLSA — Risk / Return Rank
KSA
FLSA
KSA vs. FLSA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) and Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF (FLSA). 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.
| KSA | FLSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.06 | -0.00 | -0.05 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 0.05 | 0.13 | -0.08 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.01 | 1.02 | -0.01 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.03 | 0.06 | -0.09 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.05 | 0.11 | -0.16 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| KSA | FLSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.06 | -0.00 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.29 | 0.33 | -0.05 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.44 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.33 | 0.40 | -0.07 |
Correlation
The correlation between KSA and FLSA is 0.92, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
KSA vs. FLSA - Dividend Comparison
KSA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.70%, less than FLSA's 3.68% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KSA iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF | 2.70% | 2.95% | 3.44% | 2.44% | 1.93% | 1.58% | 1.76% | 2.15% | 2.51% | 2.30% | 3.05% | 0.04% |
FLSA Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF | 3.68% | 4.01% | 3.01% | 3.09% | 1.90% | 1.95% | 2.16% | 3.18% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Drawdowns
KSA vs. FLSA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum KSA drawdown since its inception was -40.56%, which is greater than FLSA's maximum drawdown of -38.31%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for KSA and FLSA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| KSA | FLSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -40.56% | -38.31% | -2.25% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.62% | -11.30% | -0.32% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -28.08% | -27.25% | -0.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -40.56% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -13.35% | -12.60% | -0.75% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.38% | -12.16% | +0.78% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 6.51% | 6.30% | +0.21% |
Volatility
KSA vs. FLSA - Volatility Comparison
iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) and Franklin FTSE Saudi Arabia ETF (FLSA) have volatilities of 7.02% and 7.17%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| KSA | FLSA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.02% | 7.17% | -0.15% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.13% | 12.15% | -0.02% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 18.17% | 17.72% | +0.45% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 15.94% | 15.82% | +0.12% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 20.17% | 19.54% | +0.63% |