Unlocking the Power of iShares: A Comprehensive Guide to Leading ETFs

Delve into the world of iShares, a global leader in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), managing over $2 trillion across diverse markets. Discover how iShares, a subsidiary of BlackRock, offers versatile and cost-effective investment options for building long-term savings.

iShares: Driving Your Financial Growth Across Global Markets

A global leader in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), iShares manages over $2 trillion in more than 800 different products across a wide range of asset classes and investment strategies. As a subsidiary of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management company, iShares showcases BlackRock’s expertise in issuing and marketing ETFs.

Founded in 2000, the initial iShares listings were established on major exchanges such as the NYSE Euronext, the Chicago Board Options Exchange, Nasdaq, and NYSE Arca.

🌟 Key Highlights 🌟

  • Global Leader: iShares is one of the world’s largest and well-known ETF providers, offering over 800 products worldwide.
  • Robust Portfolio: Founded in 2000, iShares now manages over $2 trillion in its ETFs.
  • BlackRock’s Excellence: iShares operates as a subsidiary of the global asset management giant, BlackRock.

The Dynamics of iShares ETFs: Your Gateway to Market Exposure

ETFs offered by iShares provide a flexible, low-cost way for investors to gain diversified market exposure across fixed income, emerging markets, and broad-based indices. For instance, the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV) tracks the S&P 500 Index, while the iShares MSCI Emerging Market ETF (EEM) follows large and mid-cap companies in developing countries.

Combining low fees with tax efficiency, iShares’ ETFs are designed to match the performance of benchmark indices, leading to potentially greater long-term savings. Due to their structure, most ETFs aim to match the performance of a benchmark index, resulting in lower turnover and subsequently lower fees. Impressively, iShares Core ETFs outperformed more than 76% of their peers from 2015 to 2020.

Available on major global marketplaces, including the London Stock Exchange, the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and the Toronto Stock Exchange, iShares and Vanguard collectively represent more than 50% of the total ETF market.

Inspiring Examples of iShares ETFs 🌍📈

For U.S. investors, iShares offers a wide variety of 394 ETFs focused on commodities, equities, fixed income, multi-assets, and real estate. Additionally, investors can concentrate on specific regions, individual countries, various industry sectors, megatrends like climate change and technological breakthroughs, thematics like Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria, and other investment themes.

Here are some popular iShares ETFs:

  • iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV): This ETF tracking the S&P 500 Index held approximately $286 billion in assets as of June 2021. It has an expense ratio of 0.03% and has returned 7.27% annually since its inception in May 2000.
  • iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA): Providing access to over 900 stocks in Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Far East, EFA held about $56.8 billion in assets as of June 2021. It carries an expense ratio of 0.32% and has returned 5.84% annually since its inception in August 2001.
  • iShares Core US Aggregate Bond ETF (AGG): This ETF offers broad exposure to U.S. investment-grade bonds, holding around $88.8 billion in assets as of June 2021. It has an expense ratio of 0.04% and has returned 4.02% annually since its inception in September 2003.

Enrich your portfolio by tapping into iShares’ extensive array of ETFs, sophisticated strategies, and BlackRock’s esteemed asset management expertise.

Related Terms: Exchange-traded funds (ETFs), S&P 500 Index, Fixed income, Emerging markets, Investment strategies.

References

  1. iShares by BlackRock. “About iShares”.
  2. BlackRock. “History”.
  3. Businesswire. “iShares Marks the 20th Anniversary of Three Flagship U.S. Core Equity Funds”.
  4. iShares by Blackrock. “iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF Factsheet, EEM, 06/30/2021”, Page 1.
  5. iShares by BlackRock. “iShares Core S&P 500 ETF”, Page 1.
  6. iShares by BlackRock. “What Is an ETF?”
  7. ETF Database. “ETF Issuer League Tables”.
  8. iShares by BlackRock. “Find iShares ETFs”.
  9. iShares by BlackRock. “iShares MSCI EAFE ETF”, Page 1.
  10. iShares by BlackRock. “iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF”, Page 1.

Get ready to put your knowledge to the test with this intriguing quiz!

--- primaryColor: 'rgb(121, 82, 179)' secondaryColor: '#DDDDDD' textColor: black shuffle_questions: true --- ## What are iShares primarily used for? - [ ] Investing in real estate - [ ] Investing in individual stocks - [ ] Trading foreign currencies - [x] Investing in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) ## Who manages iShares? - [ ] Vanguard Group - [x] BlackRock - [ ] Fidelity Investments - [ ] Charles Schwab ## Which of these asset types can iShares ETFs include? - [ ] Only stocks - [ ] Only bonds - [x] Stocks, bonds, and other assets - [ ] Only commodities ## What is a key advantage of investing in iShares ETFs? - [ ] Guaranteed returns - [x] Diversification - [ ] High expense ratios - [ ] High liquidity risk ## How are iShares ETFs typically traded? - [x] On major stock exchanges - [ ] Over-the-counter only - [ ] Directly through iShares website - [ ] Via bank tellers ## iShares ETFs can provide exposure to which of the following market sectors? - [ ] Technology only - [ ] Healthcare only - [x] Multiple sectors including technology, healthcare, financials, etc. - [ ] Municipal bonds only ## What does the expense ratio of an iShares ETF represent? - [ ] The interest rate earned annually - [ ] The dividend yield paid quarterly - [x] The annual fee taken as a percentage of assets - [ ] The trading commission charged ## Compared to mutual funds, how are iShares ETFs taxed? - [ ] Higher capital gains taxes - [ ] Subject to estate taxes - [x] Typically more tax-efficient - [ ] Taxes are deferred ## Can iShares ETFs be purchased through retirement accounts such as IRAs? - [ ] No, iShares ETFs are only for taxable accounts - [x] Yes, they can be included in retirement accounts - [ ] Only after the age of 55 - [ ] Only with a financial advisor ## What feature of iShares ETFs allows investors to react quickly to market changes? - [ ] Limited trading hours - [x] Intraday trading capability - [ ] Higher initial investment requirements - [ ] Stock-only investments