iShares China Large Cap ETF USD Acc (EUR) | FXAC |



by Jackie Choy

The iShares FTSE China 25 Index strategy, including the European-domiciled IShares China Large Cap UCITS ETF, offers exposure to the largest 50 Chinese stocks listed in Hong Kong. This represents a fraction of the available opportunity set in Chinese equities. This strategy tracks the FTSE China 50 Index. The index does not include any Chinese companies listed in New York or Chinese A-shares listed on mainland China exchanges. By comparison, the Morningstar China TME Index has around 5% of its market cap allocated to stocks from the former group and 18% in the latter. Given the universe (only Hong Kong-listed Chinese companies) and selection criteria (limited to 50 stocks), the FTSE China 50 Index has concentrated exposure to the consumer discretionary sector (around 36%) and financials sector (around 29%), which skews toward giant/large caps. It is also worth noting that since late December 2020, the FTSE China 50 Index excludes the sanctioned Chinese military companies under the US Executive Order, such as China Mobile, CNOOC, and SMIC. These are the main differences between the FTSE China 50 Index and similar indices by Hong Kong-based or Chinese-based index providers, such as the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index. The concentrated coverage introduces significant idiosyncratic risk and makes this strategy a suboptimal option for investors seeking long-term exposure to the Chinese equity market. This underpins our Below Average Process Pillar rating. Morningstar has enhanced the way we assess alpha opportunity for funds, which is a key component in our Morningstar Medalist Rating calculation. In addition, Morningstar moved from using a random forest model to a rules-based system on algorithmically assigned Process Pillar ratings for passively managed equity funds, which can change the distribution of our ratings. More of this strategy's Medalist Ratings than usual may therefore change with this update even in the absence of changes to pillar ratings or fund costs. |
Morningstar Pillars | |
People | Above Average |
Parent | Above Average |
Process | Below Average |