ETF Evaluator:
Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF ()
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(as of Aug 24)
Best Performing in Foreign Large Blend Over the Last Year
| 53.2% | Pacer Nasdaq International Ptnt Ldrs ETF (PATN) |
| 37.0% | Touchstone Dynamic International ETF (TDI) |
| 36.8% | Harbor International Equity ETF (EPIN) |
| 34.8% | First Eagle Overseas Equity ETF (FEOE) |
| 33.8% | Lazard International Dynamic Equity ETF (IDEQ) |
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ETF Details
Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF Overview
Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF (REFA) is a passively managed International Equity Foreign Large Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). Columbia Threadneedle launched the ETF in 2025.
The investment seeks investment results that, before fees and expenses, closely correspond to the performance of the Beta Advantage® Research Enhanced International Equity Index (the index).
The fund invests at least 80% of its net assets (including the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities (including, but not limited to, common shares traded on local exchanges, American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) and Global Depositary Receipts (GDRs)) of companies located in international developed market countries. The index is comprised of a subset of the companies within the Starting Universe. It is non-diversified.
About Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF (REFA)
There are 3 members of the management team with an average tenure of 0.64 years: Douglas Thunen (2025), Christopher Lo (2025) and Henry Hom (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI EAFE NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and Beta Adv Research Enh Inter Equity USD index with a weighting of 100%. Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF has 214 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 24.7% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity ETF group. Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF has 98.5% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 0.1% There is 98.5% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.8% (0.8% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF has 0.7% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $5 million in total assets, which is below the $9 billion average for the Foreign Large Blend category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
REFA Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF expense ratio is below average compared to funds in the Foreign Large Blend category. Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF has an expense ratio of 0.32%, which is 19% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a C. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 0%, which indicates that it holds its assets around /years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 38% for the Foreign Large Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF returned 2.5%, which earned it a grade of B, as the Foreign Large Blend category had an average return of 1.1%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF has a trailing yield of 0.00%, which is below the 2.56% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income annually and its capital gains annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
Columbia Research Enhanced Intl Eq ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 12.7%, 0.6 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of C.
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REFA Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| REFA Return (NAV) | 2.5% | 6.3% | na | na | na | na |
| REFA Return (Price) | 0.0% | 2.9% | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 2.531% | 3.457% | na | na | na | na |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 1.1% | 4.4% | 25.0% | 16.4% | 9.2% | 9.3% |
| REFA Grade (NAV) | B | A | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 1.4% | 1.9% | na | na | na | na |
| REFA Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | na | na | na | na |
REFA Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| REFA Return (NAV) | 12.7% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| REFA Return (Price) | 9.8% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.228% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 12.1% | 31.2% | 5.2% | 16.9% | -14.7% | 10.3% | 8.8% | 22.0% | -13.2% | 24.6% | 1.9% |
| REFA Grade (NAV) | C | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | 0.6% | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | na |
| R-Squared: | na |
| Standard Deviation: | na |
| Category Risk Index: | na |
| Category Risk Rating: | |
| Total Risk Index: | na |
| Total Risk Rating: | |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | -- |
| Total Assets: | $ 6 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 6 Mil |
| Turnover: | 0.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.32% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI EAFE NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 3 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 0.6 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 0.6 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Thunen Douglas (2025), Lo Christopher (2025), Hom Henry (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 7/31/26)
| # of Holdings: | 214 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 24.7% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 98.5% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 0.1% |
| Foreign Stock: | 98.5% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.8% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | 0.7% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | Columbia Threadneedle |
| Phone Number: | 800-426-3750 |
| Website: | www.americanfunds.com |
| Inception Date: | December 11, 2025 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.32% (Rating: Below Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.40% |
