Sector Distribution (estimated):

• Finance: 20%
• Industry: 15%
• Information Technology: 14%
• Healthcare: 12%
• Consumer Goods: 10%

TOP 3 Markets (estimated):

• Japan: 15%
• United Kingdom: 12%
• China: 10%

The iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF invests in a broad range of sectors, with finance, industry, and information technology being the largest contributors. This diversification helps to spread risk and benefit from various economic developments.

The largest markets for this ETF are Japan, the United Kingdom, and China. Together, these countries represent a significant portion of the portfolio and provide access to established and emerging markets outside the USA.

iShares Trust - iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (NasdaqGM:ACWX) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) and not a company that manufactures physical products.

This ETF is managed by iShares, a brand of BlackRock, and invests in stocks of companies outside the US that are included in the MSCI ACWI ex U.S. Index. Therefore, there are no production facilities or physical products directly manufactured by this ETF. The fund consists of a collection of international stocks traded on various exchanges worldwide.

Current Status: iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) managed by BlackRock.

Strategy:

iShares, as part of BlackRock, pursues a passive investment strategy aiming to replicate the performance of the underlying index, in this case, the MSCI ACWI ex U.S. The focus is on providing investors with broad diversification across international markets outside the USA.

For future growth, iShares is focusing on the following strategies:

1. Expansion of Product Offering: iShares plans to further expand its ETF product portfolio to meet the changing needs of investors, especially in terms of sustainable and thematic investments.

2. Technological Innovation: By leveraging technology and data analysis, iShares aims to enhance the efficiency and transparency of its ETFs, leading to better replication of index performance.

3. Market Expansion: iShares aims to strengthen its presence in emerging markets to benefit from growth opportunities in these regions.

These strategies are designed to increase assets under management and continue to provide investors with cost-effective and diversified investment opportunities.

Imported Raw Materials/Resources: Diversified

Countries of Origin: Global, with a focus on emerging markets and developed markets outside the USA

The iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF is an exchange-traded fund that invests in stocks of companies outside the USA. It tracks the MSCI All Country World Index ex USA, which provides broad diversification across various sectors and countries.

Since the ETF itself does not import any raw materials or resources but invests in companies that do, the exact composition of imported raw materials and their origin depends on the respective companies in the fund. These companies can come from various sectors such as energy, materials, industrials, and consumer goods, each importing different raw materials, e.g., oil, metals, or agricultural products.

The countries of origin of the raw materials are also diversified and typically include major raw material exporters such as Brazil, Australia, Canada, Russia, and various countries in Africa and Asia. The exact distribution depends on the specific companies in the ETF and their business models.

Competitive Advantage: Moderate

The iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that aims to replicate the performance of an index consisting of stocks of companies outside the USA. As an ETF, it benefits from broad diversification and low costs, which are attractive to many investors.

A key competitive advantage of ACWX is its global diversification, providing investors access to international markets without the need to directly invest in individual foreign stocks. This reduces risk while offering the opportunity to benefit from growth opportunities in different regions.

However, since the ETF is passively managed and aims to replicate an index, its competitive advantage compared to actively managed funds is limited. The main advantage lies in cost efficiency and broad market coverage, which is beneficial for investors seeking international diversification.

Institutional Investor Share: approximately 75% (estimated for 2025)

Insider Buys/Sells: No significant insider transactions known

The iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF is a widely used ETF by institutional investors to achieve broad international diversification. The institutional investor share typically ranges from about 70-80%, which is also a realistic estimate for the year 2025.

Insider buys or sells are not common with ETFs like ACWX, as it is a fund and not a single company. Therefore, there are no relevant insider transactions to report.

Market share iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX): Estimate approx. 5% (2025)

Top competitors and their market shares:

1. Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (VEU): Estimate approx. 7%
2. SPDR MSCI ACWI ex-US ETF (CWI): Estimate approx. 6%
3. Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF): Estimate approx. 5%
4. iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS): Estimate approx. 4%
5. Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS): Estimate approx. 4%

The iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) has a moderate market share compared to its competitors. The ETF offers broad diversification by investing in stocks from developed and emerging markets outside the USA. This represents a certain moat as it provides investors with comprehensive international exposure.

However, some competitors, such as the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (VEU), have a larger market share, which could be attributed to stronger brand presence and possibly lower cost structures. The competitive advantage of ACWX could be supported by the strong iShares brand and extensive product range, offering investors flexibility and choice.

Overall, the moat of ACWX is not significantly superior to its competitors, as many ETFs in this segment offer similar diversification benefits. The choice of a specific ETF could therefore depend more on individual investor preferences, such as cost structure and specific investment strategies.

Fund Size: $4.5 billion USD (2023)
Annual Expense Ratio: 0.32%
Number of Holdings: Over 2,000

The iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF provides investors with broad diversification by investing in over 2,000 companies outside the USA. This diversification can help reduce the risk associated with investing in individual stocks.

With an annual expense ratio of 0.32%, the fund is competitive compared to other international ETFs, making it a cost-effective way to invest in global markets.

As the fund invests in a variety of sectors and regions, investors benefit from global economic development without relying on the performance of a single market. This can be particularly advantageous during times of market volatility.

Overall, the iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF could be a good investment for investors seeking broad international diversification and looking to benefit from global growth trends.

Dividend Yield: Approx. 2.5% (2023)

The iShares MSCI ACWI ex U.S. ETF (ACWX) regularly pays out dividends. The dividend yield typically hovers around 2.5%, based on the latest available data from 2023.

The payouts are relatively reliable as the ETF invests in a broad range of international stocks that themselves pay dividends. This diversification contributes to the stability of the dividend payments.

However, it is important to note that dividend yields can fluctuate depending on market conditions and the dividend practices of the companies included in the ETF.