What this ETF is trying to do

The iShares MSCI Poland ETF (EPOL) is an exchange-traded fund that focuses on the Polish market. It allows investors to put their money into a group of companies in Poland rather than picking just one individual stock.

What the numbers show

As of October 9, 2026, the share price of EPOL was $43.82. The data shows strong growth over several different timeframes:

• Year-to-Date: The price return is 24.52%, and the total return is 25.47%.

• One Year: The price return is 35.75%, and the total return is 41.43%.

• Three Years: The price return is 152.71%, and the total return is 191.82%.

It is important to know the difference between these two numbers. Price return only measures how much the share price went up or down. Total return is a broader measure that includes both the price change and the cash distributions paid to investors.

For example, the estimated price from roughly one year ago was $32.28. If an investor had put $10,000 into the ETF based on that estimated price, the price-only growth (35.75%) would have increased that amount to approximately $13,575.

Income and distribution explanation

EPOL pays out cash distributions to its investors. Over the last 12 months, it made two payments totaling $1.47 per share. This results in a distribution yield of approximately 3.36%.

The distribution frequency is listed as irregular or less frequent. For new investors, it is important to remember that a high distribution yield alone can be misleading. While these payments provide cash income, they do not guarantee that the original investment value will stay the same.

NAV erosion explanation

"NAV erosion" happens when the actual value of the assets inside an ETF drops over time, often causing the share price to fall permanently.

For this ETF, the erosion-risk score is 100, and the severity is labeled as "good." The data states that no price erosion was detected, and the severe erosion-risk flag is false.

Pros

• Strong total returns over the one-year and three-year periods.

• A high income rating grade of A+.

• No detected price erosion.

Cons

• Cash distributions are irregular and not paid on a strict schedule.

• No specific top holdings data was supplied to show which companies are in the fund.

Beginner takeaway

EPOL has shown significant price and total growth over the last three years. It provides some cash income through distributions, though these are not frequent. While the fund currently shows no signs of NAV erosion, investors should always look at total return rather than just the distribution yield to understand how an investment is performing.