iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (EWS) Performance
EWS total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +15.0% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +14.6% total return
- 5 years
- +10.5% a year
- 10 years
- +8.7% a year
- Since first price
- +4.2% a year since 1996
EWS trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | EWS total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −6.8% | −6.8% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −1.1% | −1.1% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +10.1% | +8.1% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +15.0% | +13.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +14.6% | +9.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +102.8%+26.6%/yr | +77.4% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +64.5%+10.5%/yr | +29.3% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +130.4%+8.7%/yr | +49.1% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +146.2%+6.2%/yr | +32.6% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +251.6%+6.5%/yr | +55.7% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| 30 years | +308.0%+4.8%/yr | +43.7% | +1,693.8%+10.1%/yr | — | — |
| Since inceptionMar 18, 1996 | +254.0%+4.2%/yr | +24.3% | — | — | — |
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: EWS vs SPY
From Mar 18, 1996: EWS grew to $35,402, SPY to $196,507.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
EWS returns by calendar year
18 of 29 full years positive. Best 2009 (+68.0%), worst 2008 (−46.1%). 2026 is year to date.
EWS annual returns table
| Year | EWS | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +15.0% | −10.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +31.4% | −16.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +22.1% | −8.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +6.1% | −14.1% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −9.8% | −26.2% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +5.5% | −11.9% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | −8.5% | −37.7% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +14.5% | −10.4% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −11.3% | −21.3% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +34.8% | −3.3% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +0.7% | −10.8% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −18.3% | −26.6% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | +2.7% | −8.9% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +0.0% | −15.3% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +31.7% | −13.6% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −18.6% | −26.1% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +24.6% | −13.1% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +68.0% | −29.0% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −46.1% | −57.8% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +27.9% | −15.9% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +45.8% | −17.1% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +14.3% | −10.3% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | +24.2% | −15.6% | +10.7% | +10.5% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | +45.1% | −14.2% | +28.2% | +49.7% | — |
| 2002 | −14.2% | −27.4% | −21.6% | −37.4% | — |
| 2001 | −20.9% | −44.2% | −11.8% | −33.3% | — |
| 2000 | −26.4% | −34.2% | −9.7% | −36.1% | — |
| 1999 | +52.7% | −19.8% | +20.4% | — | — |
| 1998 | −5.1% | −56.9% | +28.7% | — | — |
| 1997 | −44.4% | −47.9% | +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.
EWS largest drawdowns
Now 10.1% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 26, 1996 | −75.2% | Sep 3, 1998 | Oct 26, 2006 | 2.4 years | 10.6 years |
| Oct 12, 2007 | −63.8% | Mar 9, 2009 | Nov 3, 2010 | 1.4 years | 3.1 years |
| Jan 24, 2018 | −40.8% | Mar 23, 2020 | Sep 11, 2024 | 2.2 years | 6.6 years |
| Jul 24, 2014 | −32.5% | Jan 20, 2016 | Oct 27, 2017 | 1.5 years | 3.3 years |
| Aug 1, 2011 | −26.1% | Oct 3, 2011 | Dec 14, 2012 | 2 months | 1.4 years |
| Mar 27, 2025 | −16.3% | Apr 8, 2025 | Apr 28, 2025 | 12 days | 32 days |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
EWS risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 1996 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +27.5% | +13.2% | +9.0% | +4.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.5% | 15.0% | 16.8% | 24.4% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.81 | 0.67 | 0.46 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 3.79 | 1.11 | 0.70 | — |
| Best month | +9.0% | +11.4% | +17.3% | +40.0% |
| Worst month | −5.2% | −7.4% | −20.5% | −27.8% |
| Best 12 months | +42.3% | +42.3% | +42.3% | +155.4% |
| Worst 12 months | +18.9% | −23.8% | −23.8% | −62.9% |
| Positive months | 75% | 60% | 58% | 55% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.32 | 0.57 | 0.73 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.35 | 0.59 | 0.67 | — |
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.
EWS rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 356 | −62.9% | +6.3% | +155.4% | 60% |
| 3-year (a year) | 332 | −21.4% | +4.2% | +36.2% | 66% |
| 5-year (a year) | 308 | −16.6% | +3.7% | +31.3% | 74% |
| 10-year (a year) | 248 | −1.4% | +5.5% | +17.5% | 96% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 1996. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
EWS performance overview
iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (EWS) returned +14.6% over the past year and +8.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 1996 it has returned +4.2% a year, turning $10,000 into about $35,402. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −75.2%, from Mar 26, 1996 to Sep 3, 1998, and it took 8.1 years to get back to the old high. EWS finished 18 of its 29 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2009 (+68.0%) and the worst 2008 (−46.1%). Volatility has been 24.4% a year.
Related: EWS chart, EWS holdings, EWS dividends. See the EWS overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
EWS performance FAQ
What is the EWS return over the past year?
EWS returned +14.6% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 9.9%.
What is the average annual return of EWS?
EWS has returned +10.5% a year over 5 years, +8.7% a year over 10 years, +4.2% a year since March 18, 1996 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in EWS be worth?
$10,000 invested in EWS at its first recorded close on March 18, 1996 would be worth about $35,402 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for EWS?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −46.1%. The best was 2009 at +68.0%.
What is the biggest drawdown of EWS?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −75.2% between March 26, 1996 and September 3, 1998. It recovered to the old high on October 26, 2006, 8.1 years after the bottom.
How volatile is EWS?
Over the past 3 years EWS had an annualized volatility of 11.5% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.81 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).