Confronting Market Volatility December 4, 2014 Brian Matthews, CFA Executive Director Head of ETF Licensing and Factor Index Business Management MSCI Joseph Nelesen, PhD Director Head of Institutional Product Management & Consulting BlackRock 2014 MSCI Inc. All rights reserved.
The Index Matters Global Industry Recognition for MSCI s Leadership The awards reflect our Index Provider leadership position. Index 95 of top 100 global investment managers are MSCI clients 1 650+ ETFs are based on MSCI indexes, more than on any other index 2 $9.5tn in assets is estimated to be benchmarked to MSCI indexes 3 European Pension Fund Awards 2014 Index Provider of the Year Structured Products Europe Awards 2013 Index Innovation of the Year Asian Investor Service Provider Awards 2013 Best Provider of Benchmark Indices 160,000 indexes calculated daily 9,000+ in real time 11111111111 11111111111 11111111111 11111111111 111111 99.96% 95% accuracy rate 4 of US pension fund assets invested in global equities are benchmarked to MSCI 5 ETF ETF.com Awards 2013 Best Index Provider of the Year ETF Risk European Rankings 2014 Best Index Provider for ETF Products 1 Based on P&I AUM data as of December 2013 and internal MSCI data as of June 2014. 2 As of June 30, 2014. Calculated by aggregating the number of shares of all exchange traded funds tracking an MSCI index, as identified by separate Bloomberg tickers. Only primary listings, and not cross-listings are counted. 3 As of June 30, 2014, as reported on Sept 30, 2014 by evestment, Morningstar and Bloomberg. 4 Accuracy calculated based on number of corrections performed over total number of securities or data points covered. 5 As of December 31, 2012, according to Intersec LLC. 2
Equity Volatility Has Spiked in Recent Months 108 106 104 102 100 98 96 94 Returns of MSCI Standard Indexes Oct-Nov Volatility 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% Volatility of MSCI Standard Indexes YTD 92 2% 90 01-oct 03-oct 07-oct 09-oct 13-oct 15-oct 17-Oct 21-Oct 23-Oct 27-Oct 29-Oct 31-Oct 04-Nov 06-Nov 10-Nov 12-Nov 14-Nov 18-Nov 20-Nov 24-Nov MSCI ACWI MSCI Europe MSCI USA 0% 1-Jan 17-Jan 4-Feb 20-Feb 10-Mar 26-Mar 11-Apr 29-Apr 15-May 2-Jun 18-Jun 4-Jul 22-Jul 7-Aug 25-Aug 10-Sep 26-Sep 14-Oct 30-Oct 17-Nov MSCI ACWI MSCI EUROPE MSCI USA *Volatility calculated as annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 100 rolling days. 3
Minimum Volatility Indexes Performed as Designed 14.0% YTD Volatility of MSCI Minimum Volatility Indexes vs. Parent Indexes 12.0% 10.0% Volatility 8.0% 6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 0.0% 1-Jan 9-Jan 17-Jan 27-Jan 4-Feb 12-Feb 20-Feb 28-Feb 10-Mar 18-Mar 26-Mar 3-Apr 11-Apr 21-Apr 29-Apr 7-May 15-May 23-May 2-Jun 10-Jun 18-Jun 26-Jun 4-Jul 14-Jul 22-Jul 30-Jul 7-Aug 15-Aug 25-Aug 2-Sep 10-Sep 18-Sep 26-Sep 6-Oct 14-Oct 22-Oct 30-Oct 07-Nov 17-Nov ACWI ACWI MINIMUM VOLATILITY EUROPE EUROPE MINIMUM VOLATILITY USA USA MINIMUM VOLATILITY *Volatility calculated as annualized standard deviation of daily returns over 100 rolling days. 4
Volatility Reduction Over the Long Run 30% Volatility of MSCI Minimum Volatility Indexes vs. Parent Indexes 25% 20% Volatility 15% 10% 5% 0% feb 2002 ago 2002 feb 2003 ago 2003 feb 2004 ago 2004 feb 2005 ago 2005 feb 2006 ago 2006 feb 2007 ago 2007 feb 2008 ago 2008 feb 2009 ago 2009 feb 2010 ago 2010 feb 2011 ago 2011 feb 2012 ago 2012 feb 2013 ago 2013 feb 2014 ago 2014 ACWI ACWI Min Vol USA USA Min Vol Europe Europe Min Vol *Volatility calculated as annualized standard deviation of monthly returns over 36 rolling months. Source: MSCI 5
Minimum Volatility: Key Piece of Factor Investing Simply said, a factor is a characteristic that is important in explaining risk and return Passive Investing Passive Factor Investing Active Management Factor investing is the investment process that aims to capture such risk and return Market Return Rules Based & Transparent Implementation Active Return Discretionary Implementation Extensive financial research has shown that six key factors have historically earned a persistent premium over long periods of time relative to cap-weighted indexes 6 Key Factors Factor Indexes may provide investors with a transparent, rules based, flexible and costeffective approach to passively seek systematic exposure to factors Low Size Momentum Value Quality Factor Indexes are complementary to Market Cap Indexes and play key roles in asset allocation Yield Low Volatility 6
MSCI Min Vol Indexes: longest live history among competing low volatility methodologies They capture the broad equity market exposure without significant bias in countries, sectors and styles. 2008 MSCI launched the Minimum Volatility Indexes. Only live index during one of the worst financial crises (2008) Cumulative outperformance 160 140 120 100 80 60 MSCI World Minimum Volatility (USD) Relative Performance US Savings and Loan Crisis Tech Burst Sub Prime Crisis Eurozone Crisis 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 Period: May 1988 August 2014 $108 billion AUM estimated to be benchmarked to MSCI Factor Indexes (1). 41% track Minimum Volatility Indexes. (1) As of June 30, 2014 and reported as of September 30, 2014 by evestment, Morningstar, Bloomberg and MSCI. 7
Minimum Volatility Indexes Construction MSCI applies specific constraints to a broad market index to target a subset of stocks with reduced volatility characteristics This process is called optimization and maintains the country, sector and style characteristics of the related broad market index 8
Country and Sector Exposures MSCI ACWI Minimum Volatility Index vs. MSCI ACWI Index Canada Japan Hong Kong China Taiwan Top Country Over/Under Weights Consumer Staples Utilities Telecommunication Services Health Care Materials Sector Over/Under Weights Switzerland Consumer Discretionary Australia Industrials Germany Financials France Energy UK -6.00% -4.00% -2.00% 0.00% 2.00% 4.00% 6.00% Information Technology -6.00% -4.00% -2.00% 0.00% 2.00% 4.00% 6.00% *As of November 30, 2014 9
Exposures are Dynamic but Constrained MSCI ACWI Minimum Volatility Index vs. MSCI ACWI Index 10.00% Select Country Over / Under Weights 8.00% 6.00% Over / Under Weight 4.00% 2.00% 0.00% -2.00% -4.00% -6.00% -8.00% 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Japan United Kingdom 10
Barra Style Factor Exposures MSCI ACWI Minimum Volatility Index vs. MSCI ACWI Index *For the period June 1999 through June 2014 11
Minimum Volatility Indexes Outperformed YTD 110 Minimum Volatility Index Relative Performance 108 106 104 102 100 98 01-Jan 09-Jan 17-Jan 27-Jan 04-Feb 12-Feb 20-Feb 28-Feb 10-Mar 18-Mar 26-Mar 03-Apr 11-Apr 21-Apr 29-Apr 07-May 15-May 23-May 02-Jun 10-Jun 18-Jun 26-Jun 04-Jul 14-Jul 22-Jul 30-Jul 07-Aug 15-Aug 25-Aug 02-Sep 10-Sep 18-Sep 26-Sep 06-Oct 14-Oct 22-Oct 30-Oct 07-Nov 17-Nov ACWI Minimum Volatility/ACWI Europe Minimum Volatility/Europe USA Minimum Volatility/USA 12
Historical Outperformance Over the Long Run 160 Minimum Volatility Index Relative Performance 140 120 100 80 60 40 Nov 30, 2001 Nov 29, 2002 Nov 28, 2003 Nov 30, 2004 Nov 30, 2005 Nov 30, 2006 Nov 30, 2007 Nov 28, 2008 Nov 30, 2009 Nov 30, 2010 Nov 30, 2011 Nov 30, 2012 Nov 29, 2013 ACWI MINIMUM VOLATILITY / ACWI EUROPE MINIMUM VOLATILITY / EUROPE EM MINIMUM VOLATILITY / EM USA MINIMUM VOLATILITY / USA 13
MSCI Minimum Volatility Indexes Key Benefits Proven Risk Reduction Across various countries, regions and market environments Broad Market Representation Based on MSCI market cap weighted parent indexes No significant bias In country, sector or style exposures 2014 MSCI Inc. All rights reserved. msci.com 14
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Minimum Volatility ETF Applications Joseph Nelesen, Ph.D. December 4, 2014
ishares Suite of Minimum Volatility ETFs ACWV ishares MSCI ACWI Minimum Volatility ETF AXJV ishares MSCI Asia ex Japan Minimum Volatility ETF EFAV ishares MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility ETF EUMV ishares MSCI Europe Minimum Volatility ETF EEMV ishares MSCI EM Minimum Volatility ETF JPMV ishares MSCI Japan Minimum Volatility ETF USMV ishares MSCI USA Minimum Volatility ETF A suite overview 1 ishares MSCI ACWI MV ETF MSCI ACWI Index ishares MSCI EAFE MV ETF MSCI EAFE Index ishares MSCI EM MV ETF MSCI EM Index ishares MSCI USA MV ETF S&P 500 ishares MSCI Asia ex Japan MV ETF MSCI Asia ex Japan MV Index ishares MSCI Europe MV ETF MSCI Europe MV Index ishares MSCI Japan MV ETF MSCI Japan MV Index Ticker ACWV NDUEACWF EFAV NDDUEAFE EEMV NDUEEGF USMV SPXT AXJV M1APJVO EUMV M00IER$O JPMV M1JPMVOE Inception 2011 2011 2011 2011 2014 2014 2014 Net Exp. Ratio 20 bps 2 N/A 20 bps 3 N/A 25 bps 4 N/A 15 bps N/A 35 bps N/A 25 bps N/A 30 bps N/A Beta to the S&P 500 0.59 1.01 0.60 1.06 0.61 0.88 0.70 1.00 N/A N/A N/A 0.88 N/A N/A Standard Deviation 8.4% 13.3% 10.1% 15.6% 12.6% 16.6% 9.6% 12.5% N/A N/A N/A 13.5% N/A N/A 1. Beta and standard deviation are based on weekly returns since fund inception (10/18/11). Beta relative to the S&P 500 and standard deviation are not included for AXJV, EUMV and JPMV (and the benchmarks for AXJV and JPMV) due to insufficient performance history; funds launched 6/5/14; AXJV s benchmark launched 1/16/12 and JPMV s benchmark launched 2/18/14. 2. Effective May 16, 2012, the investment adviser to the ishares MSCI All Country World Minimum Volatility ETF has voluntarily agreed to waive a portion of its management fees in order to reduce the total fund operating expenses from 0.34% to 0.20%. Without such waivers the Fund s performance would have been lower. This voluntary fee waiver may be eliminated at any time. 3. BlackRock Fund Advisors, the investment adviser to the ishares MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility ETF and an affiliate of BlackRock Investments, LLC, has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fees in order to limit Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses to 0.20% of average daily net assets until December 31, 2014. 4. BlackRock Fund Advisors, the investment adviser to the ishares MSCI Emerging Markets Minimum Volatility ETF and an affiliate of BlackRock Investments, LLC, has contractually agreed to waive a portion of its management fees in order to limit Net Expenses to 0.25% of average daily net assets until December 31, 2014. Sources: Blackrock, Morningstar and MPI Stylus, as of 9/30/14. S&P 500 is the S&P 500 Total Return Index in all examples. is-12696 17
Performance Characteristics Downside Protection, Upside Participation 100% Upside Downside 0% -100% 67% 66% 41% MSCI Global ACWI MV Index vs. MSCI ACWI Index 48% MSCI Developed EAFE MV International Index vs. MSCI EAFE Index 89% 61% 65% 79% 75% 47% Emerging MSCI EM Markets MV MSCI Europe MV MSCI USA MV Index vs. Index vs. Index vs. MSCI EM Index MSCI Europe Index MSCI USA Index Since inception, the MSCI MV Indices have captured more upside than downside relative to their benchmarks. The chart at left displays the percentage of the upside and downside (relative to benchmark returns) that the MV indices have captured since December 2009. Source: Morningstar. Based on monthly index returns from 12/1/09 9/30/14. MSCI USA MV Index incepted: 5/30/08, all other MSCI MV Indices above incepted: 11/30/09. Volatility Case Study: Rolling Standard Deviation Relative to the S&P 500 MSCI USA MSCI USA MV Index Since inception, the relative 90-day rolling standard deviation 1 of the MSCI USA MV Index has been 21.2% lower than that of the MSCI USA on average. Chart at left plots the 90-day rolling standard deviation of the MSCI USA MV Index as a percentage of the 90-day rolling standard deviation of the MSCI USA. 90-day rolling std. dev. of the MSCI USA MV Index 1. Relative standard deviation defined as: 90-day rolling std. dev. of the MSCI USA Sources: Morningstar, Bloomberg and MPI Stylus, as of 9/30/14. Index returns are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent actual ishares Fund performance. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs or expenses. Indexes are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. is-9465 18
MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index MSCI USA Performance vs VIX Index Monthly Difference in Returns (June 2008 September 2014) Minimum Volatility indices have performed best when market volatility was high. 9/5/08: Lehman Brothers Files for Bankruptcy MSCI USA MV minus MSCI USA 4/2/10: BP Oil Spill 8/5/11: S&P Downgrades U.S. Debt VIX Level MSCI USA Min Vol minus MSCI USA (LHS) VIX Index (RHS) Source: Bloomberg, as of 9/30/14. Index returns are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent actual ishares Fund performance. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs or expenses. Indexes are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. is-9465 19
Risk-Adjusted Return Index Profiles Minimum Volatility Strategies seek to provide Downside protection while maintaining some exposure to upside price movement. Targeted equity market returns with less variability. 18% MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Index (related ishares ETF: USMV) Risk: 9.4% Return: 15.2% MSCI USA 15% MSCI Europe Minimum Volatility Index (related ishares ETF: EUMV) Risk: 15.3% Return: 9.1% Annualized Return (%) 12% 9% 6% 3% MSCI All Country World Minimum Volatility Index (related ishares ETF: ACWV) Risk: 9.2% Return: 11.0% MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility Index (related ishares ETF: EFAV) MSCI ACWI Risk: 11.3% Return: 8.2% MSCI EAFE MSCI EM Minimum Volatility Index (related ishares ETF: EEMV) Risk: 14.7% Return: 10.3% MSCI EM MSCI Europe 0% 8% 10% 12% 14% 16% 18% 20% 22% Annualized Risk (%) Source: Morningstar and MPI Stylus. MSCI Minimum Volatility indexes incepted 5/30/08 (USA) and 11/30/09 (EM, EAFE, ACWI, EUROPE). Data shown based on index returns from 12/1/09 9/30/14. Index data are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent actual ishares Fund performance. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs or expenses. Indexes are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. For actual ishares Fund performance, please visit www.ishares.com or request a prospectus by calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737). is-9465 20
Implementation Strategies Sample: No Minimum Volatility Indexes Sample: Minimum Volatility Indexes 40% 5% 15% 40% MSCI EM MSCI EAFE MSCI USA Barclays US Agg MSCI Index MSCI EM Minimum Volatility MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Related ishares ETF EEMV EFAV USMV 40% 5% 15% 40% MSCI EM Minimum Volatility MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility MSCI USA Minimum Volatility Barclays US Agg Sample Portfolio No Minimum Volatility Indexes Sample Portfolio With Minimum Volatility Indexes Annualized return (Since inception) 9.23 9.50 Annualized standard deviation (Since inception) 8.22 5.83 Sharpe ratio 1.11 1.58 Max drawdown return -9.50-3.82 # Max drawdown months 5 2 Potentially reduce risk of the overall portfolio. Portfolio Inception Date 12/1/09. Sources: BlackRock, Morningstar and MPI Stylus. 12/1/09 9/30/14. Sample portfolios are for illustrative purposes only, and do not represent a recommendation of any security or asset allocation strategy. Returns are hypothetical are not representative of any funds of investments. Index data are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent actual ishares Fund performance. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs or expenses. Indexes are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. For actual ishares Fund performance, please visit www.ishares.com or request a prospectus by calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737). This information should not be relied upon as research, investment advice or a recommendation regarding the ishares Funds or any security in particular. This information is strictly for illustrative and educational purposes. Retain risk budget and allocate additional assets to high conviction exposures. Introduce new assets classes to risk averse clients. is-9465 21
Implementation Strategies Potentially replace underperforming active funds Reduce risk while harnessing return Lower expense and daily transparency vs. active funds Sources: Bloomberg, Morningstar. 11/30/11 11/30/14. Morningstar category performance average for Diversified Emerging Markets mutual fund category. For actual ishares Fund performance, please visit www.ishares.com or request a prospectus by calling 1-800-iShares (1-800-474-2737). This information should not be relied upon as research, investment advice or a recommendation regarding the ishares Funds or any security in particular. This information is strictly for illustrative and educational purposes. is-9465 22
Carefully consider the Funds' investment objectives, risk factors, and charges and expenses before investing. This and other information can be found in the Funds' prospectuses or, if available, the summary prospectuses which may be obtained by visiting www.ishares.com or www.blackrock.com. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Investment comparisons are for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to be all-inclusive. To better understand the similarities and differences between investments, including investment objectives, risks, fees and expenses, it is important to read the products prospectuses. Information on funds is provided strictly for illustrative purposes and should not be deemed an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy shares of any funds, other than the ishares Funds, that are described in this material. International investing involves risks, including risks related to foreign currency, limited liquidity, less government regulation and the possibility of substantial volatility due to adverse political, economic or other developments. These risks often are heightened for investments in emerging/ developing markets or in concentrations of single countries. The ishares Minimum Volatility ETFs may experience more than minimum volatility as there is no guarantee that the underlying index's strategy of seeking to lower volatility will be successful. is-12696 23
The information provided is not intended to be a complete analysis of every material fact respecting any strategy and has been presented for educational purposes only. Asset allocation models and diversification do not promise any level of performance or guarantee against loss of principal. Shares of ishares Funds are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. There can be no assurance that an active trading market for shares of an ETF will develop or be maintained. Mutual funds and ishares Funds are obliged to distribute portfolio gains to shareholders by year-end. These gains may be generated due to index rebalancing or to meet diversification requirements. Trading shares of the ishares Funds will also generate tax consequences and transaction expenses. Certain traditional mutual funds can be tax efficient as well. When comparing stocks or bonds and ishares Funds, it should be remembered that management fees associated with fund investments, like ishares Funds, are not borne by investors in individual stocks or bonds. The annual management fees of ishares Funds may be substantially less than those of most mutual funds. Buying and selling shares of ishares Funds will result in brokerage commissions, but the savings from lower annual fees can help offset these costs. Index returns are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent actual ishares Fund performance. Index performance returns do not reflect any management fees, transaction costs or expenses. Indexes are unmanaged and one cannot invest directly in an index. Past performance does not guarantee future results. BlackRock does not provide tax advice. Please note that (i) any discussion of US tax matters contained in this communication cannot be used by you for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties; (ii) this communication was written to support the promotion or marketing of the matters addressed herein; and (iii) you should seek advice based on your particular circumstances from an independent tax advisor. is-12696 24
The ishares Funds are distributed by BlackRock Investments, LLC (together with its affiliates, BlackRock ). The ishares Funds are not sponsored, endorsed, issued, sold or promoted by Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc., LLC, European Public Real Estate Association ( EPRA ), FTSE International Limited ( FTSE ), JPMorgan Chase & Co., MSCI, Inc., Markit Indices Limited, Morningstar, Inc., The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc., National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ( NAREIT ), New York Stock Exchange, Inc., Russell Investment Group or S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, nor are they sponsored, endorsed or issued by Barclays Capital, Inc. None of these companies make any representation regarding the advisability of investing in the Funds. BlackRock is not affiliated with the companies listed above. Neither FTSE nor NAREIT makes any warranty regarding the FTSE NAREIT Real Estate 50 / Residential / Retail / Mortgage or Industrial / Office Index; all rights vest in NAREIT. Neither FTSE nor NAREIT makes any warranty regarding the FTSE EPRA / NAREIT Developed Real Estate ex-us / North America / Europe / Asia Index; all rights vest in FTSE, NAREIT and EPRA. All rights in the FTSE Developed Small Cap ex-north America Index vest in FTSE. FTSE is a trademark jointly owned by the London Stock Exchange plc and The Financial Times Limited and is used by FTSE under license. 2014 BlackRock. All rights reserved. ishares and BLACKROCK are registered trademarks of BlackRock. All other marks are the property of their respective owners. is-12696-0614 Not FDIC Insured No Bank Guarantee May Lose Value is-12696 25
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