Average Daily Volume
1.41M
Fund Overview
The iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (SCZ) is designed to track the investment results of the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index, which measures the performance of small-capitalization equities in developed markets outside of North America. The fund provides exposure to small-cap companies across Europe, Australasia, and the Far East (EAFE), offering investors diversification beyond large-cap international stocks. SCZ holds a broad portfolio of small-cap stocks, providing access to niche markets and high-growth potential companies that may not be available through broader international ETFs. The fund is suitable for investors seeking international small-cap exposure as part of a diversified portfolio.
- Asset Class
-
Equity
- Industry
-
N/A
- Annual Dividend Rate
-
- Smart Beta
-
No
- Leveraged / Inverse
-
N/A / No
- Dividend Quality - Yield
-
- 2.41 %
- Currency Hedged
-
No
- Portfolio Turnover
-
14 %
- Dividend Date
-
Why Invest in the SCZ ETF?
Potential Benefits
- Provides exposure to small-cap companies in developed international markets, offering diversification beyond large-cap stocks.
- Historically, small-cap stocks have shown potential for higher growth compared to large-cap counterparts over the long term.
- The fund offers access to niche markets and sectors not typically covered by broader international ETFs.
- Low expense ratio compared to actively managed international small-cap funds.
- Liquidity is strong, making it easy to buy and sell shares.
Potential Risks
- Small-cap stocks are generally more volatile than large-cap stocks, leading to higher price fluctuations.
- Currency risk is present due to exposure to non-U.S. markets, which can impact returns when the U.S. dollar strengthens.
- Political and economic instability in foreign markets may affect performance.
- Lower liquidity in some small-cap stocks could lead to wider bid-ask spreads.
- Sector concentration risk, as the fund may be overweight in certain industries depending on regional market composition.
RSI data unavailable or insufficient history.
Monthly Returns (%)
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 2026 |
+5.5%
|
+4.8%
|
-8.5%
|
+6.6%
|
+3.5%
|
-3.6%
|
+2.0%
|
+3.5%
|
-2.7%
|
-0.1%
|
-
|
-
|
| 2025 |
+3.0%
|
+0.5%
|
+1.0%
|
+4.7%
|
+6.2%
|
+4.4%
|
-0.4%
|
+4.4%
|
+1.5%
|
-0.7%
|
+1.7%
|
+2.0%
|
| 2024 |
-2.6%
|
+1.6%
|
+3.4%
|
-3.4%
|
+5.5%
|
-3.1%
|
+5.1%
|
+1.9%
|
+2.6%
|
-6.3%
|
+0.8%
|
-3.2%
|
| 2023 |
+8.3%
|
-3.1%
|
+0.5%
|
+2.2%
|
-4.4%
|
+3.1%
|
+3.9%
|
-3.5%
|
-4.6%
|
-4.7%
|
+8.8%
|
+7.2%
|
| 2022 |
-6.1%
|
-3.0%
|
-0.4%
|
-7.0%
|
+0.5%
|
-10.2%
|
+6.6%
|
-5.9%
|
-11.0%
|
+4.4%
|
+11.9%
|
-0.9%
|
| 2021 |
-0.4%
|
+3.1%
|
+2.3%
|
+3.8%
|
+2.1%
|
-1.7%
|
+1.7%
|
+2.8%
|
-4.1%
|
+2.5%
|
-5.7%
|
+3.7%
|
| 2020 |
-3.8%
|
-8.9%
|
-17.8%
|
+9.6%
|
+8.1%
|
+2.0%
|
+2.7%
|
+7.4%
|
-0.2%
|
-3.5%
|
+12.9%
|
+7.1%
|
| 2019 |
+8.1%
|
+2.0%
|
+0.5%
|
+3.3%
|
-5.7%
|
+4.3%
|
-1.5%
|
-1.7%
|
+3.0%
|
+4.1%
|
+2.4%
|
+4.2%
|
| 2018 |
+5.2%
|
-3.8%
|
-0.1%
|
+0.7%
|
-1.0%
|
-2.3%
|
+1.2%
|
-1.2%
|
-0.7%
|
-9.7%
|
0.0%
|
-6.6%
|
| 2017 |
+3.8%
|
+2.0%
|
+2.5%
|
+4.2%
|
+3.3%
|
+0.6%
|
+3.4%
|
+0.7%
|
+2.9%
|
+1.7%
|
+0.9%
|
+2.6%
|
< -5%
-5% to -2%
-2% to 0%
0%
0% to +2%
+2% to +5%
> +5%
Top Holdings (by weight)
| Symbol |
Company Name |
Weight |
|
TIGO
|
MILLICOM INTERNATIONAL CELLULAR SA |
0.1 % |
|
CLBT
|
CELLEBRITE DI LTD |
0.1 % |
|
CAMT
|
CAMTEK LTD |
0.1 % |
|
INMD
|
INMODE LTD |
0.0 % |
|
RDWR
|
RADWARE LTD |
0.0 % |
|
SPNS
|
SAPIENS INTERNATIONAL CORP NV |
0.0 % |
|
GOGL
|
GOLDEN OCEAN GROUP LTD |
0.0 % |
|
FVRR
|
FIVERR INTERNATIONAL LTD |
0.0 % |
|
KRNT
|
KORNIT DIGITAL LTD |
0.0 % |
|
KEN
|
KENON HOLDINGS LTD |
0.0 % |
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 2 total holdings.
Related ETFs: SCZ vs Peers
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.
Investment Strategy
SCZ tracks the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index, a market-cap-weighted index designed to measure small-cap equity performance across developed markets outside North America. The index includes companies with market capitalizations generally in the range of $200 million to $5 billion, though exact thresholds may vary. The fund employs a passive management approach, aiming to replicate the index by holding a representative sample of securities. It primarily invests in common stocks and rebalances quarterly to align with index changes. The fund avoids derivatives, opting for physical replication to maintain accurate tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What regions does SCZ cover?
SCZ provides exposure to small-cap stocks in developed markets across Europe, Australasia, and the Far East (EAFE), excluding the U.S. and Canada.
How does SCZ differ from an emerging markets small-cap ETF?
SCZ focuses exclusively on developed markets, which tend to have more stable economies and regulatory environments compared to emerging markets. Emerging market small-cap ETFs carry higher political and currency risks.
What is the expense ratio of SCZ?
SCZ has an expense ratio of 0.39%, which is competitive among international small-cap ETFs.
Does SCZ hedge currency exposure?
No, SCZ does not hedge currency risk, so returns are affected by fluctuations in foreign exchange rates against the U.S. dollar.
How often does SCZ rebalance its holdings?
SCZ rebalances quarterly to maintain alignment with its underlying index, the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index.
Industry Overview
The iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (SCZ) provides exposure to small-cap stocks in developed international markets, excluding the U.S. and Canada. Investing in international small-cap equities can offer diversification benefits and growth potential, as these companies often operate in niche markets with less coverage than large-cap firms. The EAFE (Europe, Australasia, Far East) region includes economically stable countries with mature financial markets, but small-cap stocks in these regions may still carry higher volatility and currency risk. SCZ is a popular choice for investors seeking international small-cap exposure without the added complexity of emerging markets.
Alternative Comparison
Compared to similar funds like SCHC (Schwab International Small-Cap Equity ETF) and GWX (SPDR S&P International Small Cap ETF), SCZ offers a slightly broader geographic exposure within the EAFE region. While SCHC has a marginally lower expense ratio, SCZ provides deeper small-cap coverage with more holdings. Unlike GWX, which follows an equal-weighted approach, SCZ uses market-cap weighting, which may result in different sector and country allocations. Investors prioritizing liquidity and established index methodology may prefer SCZ over some smaller competitors.
Issuer Overview
SCZ is issued by iShares, a leading ETF provider under BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager. iShares is known for its broad range of index-tracking ETFs, offering cost-efficient and transparent investment solutions. The firm's expertise in passive investing and global market access makes it a trusted choice for investors seeking diversified exposure to international markets.
Conclusion
The iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (SCZ) is a well-established option for investors seeking small-cap exposure in developed international markets. Its broad diversification, low cost, and liquidity make it a practical choice for long-term portfolios. However, investors should be mindful of the inherent volatility and currency risks associated with international small-cap investing. SCZ complements a diversified equity allocation, particularly for those looking to balance U.S. and large-cap international holdings with smaller, growth-oriented companies abroad.
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