iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF

KSA

Market cap $610M

Geographic diversification is increasingly important as US and Western markets face high valuations, debt, and structural challenges. Saudi Arabia's ambitious Vision 2030 and vast resources make it a compelling long-term investment story, but execution risks remain. The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF offers exposure but is heavily weighted in traditional sectors, with high fees and limited diversification into growth industries.

I rate KSA as a hold due to poor momentum, weak technicals, and only modest earnings growth despite a reasonable P/E ratio. KSA's portfolio is heavily concentrated in financials and materials, with high volatility and a less attractive PEG ratio of 2.4x. The ETF faces bearish technical patterns, with crucial support at $36; a breakdown could trigger further downside toward $26.

KSA ETF offers exposure to Saudi Arabia's economy but is highly concentrated in financials and has high valuations, making it risky. Saudi Arabia's economy shows strong GDP growth and low inflation, but political risks and ambitious projects raise concerns about long-term stability. Technical indicators for KSA are bearish, with negative momentum and trading below its 200-day moving average, suggesting a bear market.

The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF offers investors passive exposure to Saudi Arabian equities. The country's economic performance has been relatively robust, with that growth also trickling down to the fund's holdings. Valuation and the fund's ongoing charges may be sticking points, though, while developments in terms of Saudi stock ownership also slightly reduce the attractiveness of this ETF.

US equities have outperformed the rest of the world for a long time now. While the US is up 58% on a total return basis during the current bull market, the rest of the world is up 13.5 percentage points less at +44.5%. Looking at the international dividend ETF over a longer time frame, over the last five years, it's up 20.6% in price and more than double that on a total return basis.

iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF has underperformed in 2024, lagging behind global equities, and we are not convinced this trend will reverse any time soon. Investors interested in Saudi equities also have the opportunity to look at FLSA, which we find more compelling. Saudi Arabia's economic outlook is pressured by declining oil prices, while Saudi banks, which dominate this portfolio, will have to deal with higher funding costs.

Central bank interest rate policy divergence has become a reality, there have been increased levels of geopolitical risk due to rising tensions in the Middle East and political change has swept across Europe. With the financial landscape changing at pace, many of the recent themes impacting markets have also been seen in ETF securities lending activity. As uncertainty grows across both the political and financial spectrums, interest in ETFs within the securities lending market is expected to grow further.

Saudi Arabia is launching an entrepreneurial ecosystem for non-oil industries, diversifying its economy away from energy. The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF provides retail investors with exposure to the Saudi market and its economic transformation. The top holdings of the KSA ETF include major financial institutions and Saudi Arabian Oil, reflecting the country's dominance in the financial and energy sectors.

The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF is an ETF that tracks the performance of the Saudi Arabian stock market. The ETF is heavily swayed by the financial exposures, which are benefiting structurally from the Vision 2030 plan underway in Saudi Arabia.

The iShares MSCI Saudi Arabia ETF offers global investors access to Saudi Arabia's equity market and its evolving economy. The drivers fueling the growth of Saudi Arabia's economy into 2024 and beyond are varied, demonstrating a comprehensive strategy aimed at strengthening and diversifying the economy. The valuation metrics of the ETF compared to those of a hypothetical U.S. ETF highlights potential undervaluation, making it an appealing investment option considering the market dynamics and growth opportunities.