Asian Stocks Just Beat the S&P 500 by 56 Points and Few Investors Noticed

Most U.S. investors building international exposure default to broad developed-market funds, but the iShares Asia 50 ETF (NYSEARCA:AIA) takes a more concentrated bet: 50 blue-chip stocks across five Asian markets, with a notable tilt toward technology at valuations well below U.S. peers. After years of underperformance versus American equities, that positioning has become suddenly relevant.

What AIA Is Designed to Do

AIA tracks a concentrated index of 50 large-cap Asian equities across China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore. The fund captures earnings growth and valuation re-rating of Asia’s largest businesses, particularly in technology and financials, without the currency hedging complexity of some regional peers. With a 0.5% expense ratio and $2.2 billion in net assets, it is a liquid, cost-accessible vehicle for the exposure.

Does It Deliver?

AIA has gained 56.7% over the past year, far outpacing the S&P 500’s 13% return over the same period. This gap reflects a broad re-rating of Asian equities driven by improving earnings visibility and easing regulatory pressure on Chinese tech giants.

That momentum has carried into 2026, with AIA up nearly 19% year-to-date while the S&P 500 has risen just 1.1%, suggesting the valuation gap between Asian and U.S. equities is continuing to close.

The five-year record reflects the damage done by Chinese regulatory crackdowns and a strong dollar, which together suppressed returns well below U.S. benchmarks, with AIA returning 28.7% against 76.8% for SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEARCA:SPY). Over a full decade, however, AIA has roughly matched the S&P 500, suggesting the fund can keep pace with American equities when macro conditions are supportive.

Income has also improved. AIA pays dividends semi-annually, and the 2025 total payout of $2.44 per share grew meaningfully from $1.89 in 2024, reflecting stronger underlying earnings from portfolio companies. At a current yield of roughly 1.1%, income is a secondary benefit rather than a primary draw.

The Tradeoffs

Concentration is the most immediate risk. Fifty stocks across five markets means individual country or sector dislocations can move the fund sharply. A January 2026 analysis flagged that AIA is highly sensitive to S&P 500 movements, limiting its diversification benefit in U.S.-heavy portfolios. Separately, a 308% spike in short interest in December 2025 signals some institutional investors are positioning against the rally, worth monitoring as momentum cools.

AIA offers concentrated exposure to large-cap Asian technology and financials at a P/E near 14x. Its correlation to U.S. markets means it may function more as a valuation diversifier than a risk diversifier, according to recent analysis.