KSA vs. UAE
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) and iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE).
KSA and UAE 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. UAE is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI All UAE Capped Index. It was launched on Apr 29, 2014. Both KSA and UAE are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: KSA or UAE.
Key characteristics
| KSA | UAE | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 0.78% | 5.68% |
| 1Y Return | 10.19% | 8.64% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 1.23% | 2.30% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 9.85% | 5.90% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.84 | 0.64 |
| Sortino Ratio | 1.23 | 0.96 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.16 | 1.12 |
| Calmar Ratio | 0.50 | 0.36 |
| Martin Ratio | 2.21 | 2.03 |
| Ulcer Index | 5.05% | 4.52% |
| Daily Std Dev | 13.36% | 14.41% |
| Max Drawdown | -40.56% | -60.44% |
| Current Drawdown | -12.71% | -14.09% |
Correlation
The correlation between KSA and UAE is 0.33, which is considered to be low. This implies their price changes are not closely related. A low correlation is generally favorable for portfolio diversification, as it helps to reduce overall risk by spreading it across multiple assets with different performance patterns.
Performance
KSA vs. UAE - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, KSA achieves a 0.78% return, which is significantly lower than UAE's 5.68% return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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KSA vs. UAE - Expense Ratio Comparison
KSA has a 0.74% expense ratio, which is higher than UAE's 0.59% expense ratio.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
KSA vs. UAE - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) and iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE). 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.
Dividends
KSA vs. UAE - Dividend Comparison
KSA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.75%, less than UAE's 4.12% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KSA iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF | 2.75% | 2.44% | 1.93% | 1.58% | 1.76% | 2.15% | 2.51% | 2.30% | 3.05% | 0.04% | 0.00% |
UAE iShares MSCI UAE ETF | 4.12% | 3.25% | 2.67% | 4.88% | 4.75% | 3.54% | 5.56% | 3.38% | 4.74% | 3.77% | 2.58% |
Drawdowns
KSA vs. UAE - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum KSA drawdown since its inception was -40.56%, smaller than the maximum UAE drawdown of -60.44%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for KSA and UAE. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
KSA vs. UAE - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF (KSA) is 2.96%, while iShares MSCI UAE ETF (UAE) has a volatility of 4.35%. This indicates that KSA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than UAE based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.