iShares MSCI Australia ETF (EWA): Complete Beginner's Guide

What is iShares MSCI Australia ETF?

EWA invests in Australian companies with heavy emphasis on mining, banking, and healthcare sectors that drive the country's resource-rich economy. It provides exposure to some of the world's largest mining companies alongside Australia's dominant big four banks. This fund is popular with investors seeking commodity-linked equity exposure combined with above-average dividend income.

EWA is managed by BlackRock and has been available since 1996. With $2.0B in assets under management, it's a growing fund that has attracted significant investor interest. The fund charges an expense ratio of 0.50%, which means for every $10,000 you invest, you pay approximately $50 per year in management fees.

EWA at a Glance — Key Metrics

Top 10 Holdings in EWA

EWA holds 65 different securities. Here are the largest positions that make up the core of this fund:

EWA Performance History

Here's how EWA has performed over different time periods. Remember that past performance doesn't guarantee future results, but it gives you a sense of the fund's track record:

Beginner Suitability Score: 8.5/10

Our proprietary Beginner Suitability Score evaluates ETFs based on five factors that matter most to new investors: fees, volatility, diversification, dividend history, and track record length.

EWA scores 8.5/10 because it has very low fees, shows lower-than-average volatility, focuses on 65 selected holdings, and has been available since 1996, giving it a proven track record.

How to Buy EWA — Step by Step

1. Open a brokerage account — We recommend Fidelity, Charles Schwab, or Vanguard for ETF investing. All offer $0 commissions on ETF trades.
2. Fund your account — Transfer money from your bank. You can start with as little as $1 if your broker offers fractional shares.
3. Search for "EWA" — Use the search bar in your brokerage platform to find iShares MSCI Australia ETF.
4. Place your order — Choose "Market Order" for simplicity or "Limit Order" if you want to set a specific price. Enter how many shares (or dollar amount) you want to buy.
5. Set up automatic investing — Most brokers let you schedule recurring purchases (e.g., $100/month on the 1st). This is dollar cost averaging in action.

EWA Sector Allocation

Here's how EWA distributes its investments across different sectors of the economy:

Dollar Cost Averaging Into EWA

Here's what consistent monthly investing could look like over time, assuming an average annual return of 8% (approximate historical stock market average):

*Projections assume 8% average annual return with monthly compounding. Actual returns will vary. Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Fee impact: With EWA's expense ratio of 0.50%, a $10,000 investment would lose approximately $4,131 to fees over 20 years compared to a zero-fee investment. This is significant — consider whether the fund's strategy justifies these costs.

Pros and Cons of EWA

Frequently Asked Questions