iShares MSCI Sweden ETFEWD

The iShares MSCI Sweden ETF (EWD) ended July 2026 with a 0.3% gain, lagging behind broader European markets as Swedish blue chips like Ericsson and Volvo faced headwinds from weaker global tech demand. The fund, which holds 20 stocks with a 25% concentration in its top three positions, saw its 12-month trailing dividend yield rise to 2.1% (source: https://www.nasdaq.com/market-activity/etf/ewd).

Despite BlackRock’s marketing of its AI ETF range, EWD’s portfolio remains dominated by traditional industries. The fund’s largest holding, Ericsson AB, accounts for 14.2% of assets, followed by Volvo Group at 11.8% and Telia Company at 9.5%. This composition reflects the MSCI Sweden Index’s heavy tilt toward legacy sectors rather than cutting-edge tech (source: https://www.sec.gov/edgar/search/#/q=EWD).

The fund’s expense ratio of 0.25% ranks mid-tier among country-specific ETFs, though critics note that BlackRock’s 'expert management' doesn’t prevent tracking error of 0.45% annually against its benchmark. Liquidity remains adequate with average daily volume of 150,000 shares, but bid-ask spreads occasionally widen during Scandinavian market volatility (source: https://tools.finra.org/fund_analyzer/).

Recent filings show EWD’s assets under management (AUM) dropped 2.7% in Q2 2026 to $480 million, reflecting outflows amid Sweden’s banking sector uncertainty. The fund’s 5-year total return of 6.4% annually trails the S&P 500’s 9.1%, though its lower volatility (beta of 0.85) appeals to risk-averse European equity investors (source: https://www.ishares.com/uk/individual/en/products/etf-investments).