iShares MSCI France ETF (EWQ) Performance
EWQ total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- −5.9% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- −6.0% total return
- 5 years
- +4.7% a year
- 10 years
- +8.5% a year
- Since first price
- +7.0% a year since 1996
EWQ trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | EWQ total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −5.2% | −5.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −7.4% | −7.4% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | −6.3% | −8.5% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | −5.9% | −8.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | −6.0% | −8.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +31.6%+9.6%/yr | +20.5% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +25.7%+4.7%/yr | +6.2% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +125.7%+8.5%/yr | +72.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +194.0%+7.5%/yr | +94.8% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +128.4%+4.2%/yr | +28.9% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| 30 years | +611.0%+6.8%/yr | +200.9% | +1,693.8%+10.1%/yr | — | — |
| Since inceptionMar 18, 1996 | +685.4%+7.0%/yr | +224.5% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: EWQ vs SPY
From Mar 18, 1996: EWQ grew to $78,544, SPY to $196,507.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
EWQ returns by calendar year
20 of 29 full years positive. Best 1998 (+42.1%), worst 2008 (−41.6%). 2026 is year to date.
EWQ annual returns table
| Year | EWQ | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | −5.9% | −13.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +28.9% | −15.2% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | −5.6% | −14.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +21.7% | −14.7% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −12.0% | −31.5% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +21.4% | −7.6% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +2.9% | −39.2% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +26.7% | −8.2% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −12.9% | −22.3% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +29.1% | −3.0% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +4.9% | −13.4% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +0.2% | −14.3% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −10.7% | −20.2% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +24.1% | −8.6% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +24.3% | −20.8% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −17.7% | −36.2% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | −2.5% | −28.9% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +27.2% | −32.6% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −41.6% | −54.7% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +12.1% | −15.3% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +33.6% | −12.8% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +10.1% | −7.8% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | +18.6% | −10.7% | +10.7% | +10.5% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | +41.0% | −22.0% | +28.2% | +49.7% | — |
| 2002 | −20.1% | −34.7% | −21.6% | −37.4% | — |
| 2001 | −23.9% | −38.6% | −11.8% | −33.3% | — |
| 2000 | +1.3% | −21.5% | −9.7% | −36.1% | — |
| 1999 | +32.0% | −14.2% | +20.4% | — | — |
| 1998 | +42.1% | −25.0% | +28.7% | — | — |
| 1997 | +11.7% | −14.4% | +33.5% | — | — |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
EWQ largest drawdowns
Now 13.6% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 12, 2007 | −61.4% | Mar 9, 2009 | Jun 2, 2017 | 1.7 years | 9.9 years |
| Jun 14, 2000 | −52.8% | Mar 12, 2003 | Mar 4, 2005 | 2.7 years | 4.7 years |
| Jan 17, 2020 | −39.2% | Mar 18, 2020 | Nov 24, 2020 | 2 months | 10 months |
| Jan 12, 2022 | −31.5% | Sep 27, 2022 | Apr 12, 2023 | 8 months | 1.2 years |
| Jul 17, 1998 | −25.0% | Oct 5, 1998 | Jan 4, 1999 | 3 months | 6 months |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −22.3% | Dec 24, 2018 | Dec 13, 2019 | 11 months | 1.9 years |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
EWQ risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 1996 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +9.3% | +6.2% | +8.7% | +7.0% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.2% | 18.5% | 18.7% | 20.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 0.39 | 0.23 | 0.42 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 0.55 | 0.33 | 0.63 | — |
| Best month | +9.1% | +13.8% | +21.8% | +21.8% |
| Worst month | −9.4% | −10.0% | −19.0% | −23.4% |
| Best 12 months | +28.9% | +36.2% | +52.8% | +60.4% |
| Worst 12 months | −5.6% | −23.9% | −23.9% | −50.8% |
| Positive months | 69% | 60% | 59% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.54 | 0.85 | 0.92 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.47 | 0.72 | 0.76 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
EWQ rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 356 | −50.8% | +11.2% | +60.4% | 66% |
| 3-year (a year) | 332 | −18.6% | +7.8% | +33.0% | 77% |
| 5-year (a year) | 308 | −11.0% | +5.5% | +25.8% | 86% |
| 10-year (a year) | 248 | −0.6% | +5.7% | +13.7% | 97% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 1996. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
EWQ performance overview
iShares MSCI France ETF (EWQ) returned −6.0% over the past year and +8.5% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 1996 it has returned +7.0% a year, turning $10,000 into about $78,544. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −61.4%, from Jul 12, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 8.2 years to get back to the old high. EWQ finished 20 of its 29 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 1998 (+42.1%) and the worst 2008 (−41.6%). Volatility has been 20.6% a year.
Related: EWQ chart, EWQ holdings, EWQ dividends. See the EWQ overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
EWQ performance FAQ
What is the EWQ return over the past year?
EWQ returned −6.0% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it fell 8.6%.
What is the average annual return of EWQ?
EWQ has returned +4.7% a year over 5 years, +8.5% a year over 10 years, +7.0% a year since March 18, 1996 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in EWQ be worth?
$10,000 invested in EWQ at its first recorded close on March 18, 1996 would be worth about $78,544 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for EWQ?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −41.6%. The best was 1998 at +42.1%.
What is the biggest drawdown of EWQ?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −61.4% between July 12, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on June 2, 2017, 8.2 years after the bottom.
How volatile is EWQ?
Over the past 3 years EWQ had an annualized volatility of 14.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 0.39 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).