What does the expense ratio tell an investor about CNYA and FXI?

The expense ratio is an annual fee deducted from a fund's assets. For CNYA, the expense ratio is 0.60%, while for FXI, it is 0.74%. This means FXI has a higher fee, which is 0.14 percentage points more than CNYA. Over time, even small differences in fees can affect returns, as the fee is taken out of the fund's value before the investor sees it. Lower expenses generally allow more of the investment to grow, assuming other factors are equal.

Why are top holdings and sector weights not available for these ETFs?

In this comparison, the top holdings and sector weights for both CNYA and FXI are listed as 'not available'. This is not unusual for certain data feeds or snapshot views. Without this information, investors cannot verify the specific companies or economic sectors the funds own at this moment. This limits the ability to perform a detailed bottom-up analysis of the portfolio's composition, requiring reliance on broader metrics like fund size and expense ratio instead.

What does 'Greater China Region' category mean for these funds?

Both CNYA and FXI fall under the 'Greater China Region' category. This typically includes markets such as mainland China, Hong Kong, and sometimes Taiwan. It indicates that the funds invest in companies with significant operations or revenue in these areas. However, the specific access differs: CNYA tracks the MSCI China A index, focusing on mainland shares, while FXI focuses on large-cap companies, often accessible via international listings. The category labels the geography, not the exact market access mechanism.

How do the net assets of CNYA and FXI differ, and why does it matter?

FXI has substantially larger net assets of $4.1 billion compared to CNYA's $209 million. Larger net assets, like FXI's, suggest higher liquidity, meaning the fund's shares can likely be bought or sold with smaller price impacts. Smaller funds, like CNYA, might have wider bid-ask spreads or lower trading volumes. This size difference does not indicate performance quality but affects how easily an investor can enter or exit a position without significantly moving the market price.

Which fund is newer, and how does history impact data reliability?

CNYA is newer, with an inception date of June 13, 2016. FXI is older, established on October 5, 2004. The longer history of FXI provides more extensive performance data over various market cycles, including bull and bear markets. This allows investors to observe how FXI has reacted to past economic conditions. CNYA's shorter history means less data is available for long-term trend analysis, making its performance record less tested through time compared to FXI.

What is the dividend yield difference between CNYA and FXI?

CNYA has a dividend yield of 1.82%, whereas FXI offers a slightly higher yield of 1.95%. Both yields provide modest income potential. The difference is 0.13 percentage points. Dividend yields are variable and depend on the underlying companies' payout policies and the fund's recent performance. Neither yield guarantees future income, as companies can change their dividends. For income-focused investors, both funds offer similar, moderate yields, with FXI having a marginal edge in the current snapshot.

Do CNYA and FXI share common top holdings?

According to the provided data, there are no shared top-10 holdings listed for CNYA and FXI. This suggests that the funds likely focus on different groups of companies within the Greater China region. CNYA is linked to the China A-share market, while FXI focuses on large-cap stocks, which may have different listings or company compositions. The absence of overlap in the top holdings indicates that holding both funds would likely result in different exposure profiles rather than duplicating the same investments.

What type of Chinese market does CNYA track?

CNYA is an iShares MSCI China A ETF. This indicates it tracks an index focused on China A-shares, which are mainland Chinese equities. A-shares are typically priced in Renminbi and traded on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges. Access to this market has historically involved specific programs like Stock Connect, as foreign investors often cannot trade these shares directly. The fund provides indirect access to this onshore market segment, distinct from offshore listings.

What does the name China Large-Cap ETF imply for FXI's strategy?

FXI is known as the iShares China Large-Cap ETF. The 'Large-Cap' designation in its name implies that the fund focuses on companies with large market capitalizations, which are generally established and often industry leaders. These companies may be listed in Hong Kong or other international exchanges, providing easier access for global investors compared to mainland A-shares. The strategy is typically to capture the performance of the largest and most liquid Chinese companies available to international markets.

How does the expense ratio difference affect long-term costs?

FXI's 0.74% expense ratio versus CNYA's 0.60% represents a difference of 0.14 percentage points annually. Over a long period, this fee gap compounds. For example, on a $10,000 investment, the annual cost difference is $14. If returns were identical, the fee drag accumulates, reducing the final wealth. While 0.14% seems small, consistent differences in fees, especially combined with the large asset base of FXI, are key metrics for cost-conscious investors comparing passive products.

Are the fees for FXI considered high for a passive fund?

FXI has an expense ratio of 0.74%, which the context notes is relatively high for a passive fund. Passive funds generally aim to have lower fees than active ones by tracking an index. A fee above 0.50% or 0.60% is often considered expensive in the current market for broad equity index funds. While it provides access to large-cap China stocks, the cost is a significant factor to consider when evaluating total expense versus similar products like CNYA's 0.60% fee.

Why might a beginner prefer one fund over the other based on goals?

A beginner might choose based on market exposure goals. If the objective is broader exposure to established, large-cap companies often accessible internationally, FXI fits this, despite higher fees. If the goal is accessing the domestic mainland Chinese A-share market, CNYA is designed for this, potentially with lower costs but less liquidity. Neither is 'better'; they serve different exposure purposes. Investors should align the fund's focus (large-cap international vs. onshore A-shares) with their desired geographic or sectoral exposure.

CNYA vs FXI

Two funds, one decision: we compare cost, performance and what each ETF actually holds in October 2026.

Compare CNYA (iShares MSCI China A ETF) with FXI (iShares China Large-Cap ETF) on fees, dividends, and index focus. CNYA has a 0.60% expense ratio and FXI is at 0.74%. Holdings and sector weights are not available. Learn how each tracks China markets. Educational content, not financial advice.

Compare CNYA (iShares MSCI China A ETF) with FXI (iShares China Large-Cap ETF) on fees, dividends, and index focus. CNYA has a 0.60% expense ratio and FXI is at 0.74%. Holdings and sector weights are ...

Fund Snapshot

Key Fund Metrics

CNYA

Metric

FXI

0.60%

Expense Ratio

0.74%

1.82%

Dividend Yield

1.95%

$208.93M

Net Assets

$4.10B

422

Holdings

60

Jun 13, 2016

Inception Date

Oct 5, 2004

–

Index Tracked

–

Greater China Region

Fund Category

Greater China Region

CNYA costs about $14.00 less per year for every $10,000 invested.

Shared Top Holdings

These funds do not share any of their top holdings.

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Investment Analysis

CNYA

Pros

Lower expense ratio of 0.60 percent compared to the peer fund.
Dividend yield of 1.82 percent offers modest income potential.
Inception date of June 2016 provides a defined operational history.

Considerations

Smaller net assets of 209 million dollars may impact liquidity.
Expense ratio of 0.60 percent remains relatively high for passive investing.
Index tracked and sector weights data are currently not available.

FXI

Pros

Substantial net assets of 4.1 billion dollars suggest high liquidity.
Long history since October 2004 provides extensive performance data.
Dividend yield of 1.95 percent offers slightly higher income than peer.

Considerations

Higher expense ratio of 0.74 percent increases annual costs significantly.
Expense ratio of 0.74 percent is expensive for a passive fund.
Top holdings and sector weights data are currently not available.

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About CNYA and FXI

CNYA (CNYA)

iShares MSCI China A ETF (CNYA) is an exchange‑traded fund that offers investors a convenient way to gain exposure to mainland China A‑share companies through a single traded security. The fund seeks to replicate the performance of an index representing large‑ and mid‑cap Chinese mainland equities across multiple sectors, providing diversified access to domestic Chinese growth themes. Investors should review the fund’s factsheet and prospectus for details on the exact index, fees, tracking error and index methodology. Key considerations include higher volatility compared with developed markets, regulatory and geopolitical risk, currency fluctuations and potential liquidity constraints in local markets. As with all ETFs, there are trade‑related costs such as bid‑ask spreads and the possibility of tracking deviation. This content is general educational information only and not personalised financial advice; the value of investments can fall as well as rise and returns are not guaranteed. Consider suitability and, if needed, consult a regulated financial adviser.

FXI (FXI)

iShares China Large-Cap ETF (FXI) provides investors with liquid, broad exposure to large-cap Chinese equities through a single, exchange-traded product. FXI primarily tracks a benchmark of major China-based companies — often H‑shares, Red Chips and other large listings — offering a straightforward way to access prominent names in sectors such as financials, telecommunications and energy. As an ETF, FXI can be bought and sold on an exchange like a share, and its price moves with the underlying index and market sentiment. Investors should note this is a China-focused, large-cap play, so performance depends heavily on Chinese economic conditions, policy, currency movements and geopolitics. Fees, tracking error and concentration risk in the largest holdings can affect returns. This summary is for educational purposes only and not personalised financial advice; values can rise or fall and you could lose capital. Consider your investment horizon, diversification needs and tolerance for emerging-market and country-specific risks before investing.

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