ETF Evaluator:
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA)
Follow This ETF
(as of Jul 31)
Best Performing in Foreign Large Blend Over the Last Year
| 61.4% | Pacer Nasdaq International Ptnt Ldrs ETF (PATN) |
| 37.4% | Harbor International Equity ETF (EPIN) |
| 35.9% | iShares Currency Hdgd MSCI ACWI exUS ETF (HAWX) |
| 34.5% | Xtrackers MSCI All World exUS Hdg Eq ETF (DBAW) |
| 33.6% | NYLI FTSE International Eq Ccy Netrl ETF (HFXI) |
Risk
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Risk
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ETF Details
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Overview
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is a passively managed International Equity Foreign Large Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). iShares launched the ETF in 2012.
The investment seeks to track the investment results of the MSCI EAFE IMI Index composed of large-, mid- and small-capitalization developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada.
The fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its underlying index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of its underlying index. The index is designed to measure large-, mid- and small-capitalization equity market performance and includes stocks from Europe, Australasia and the Far East.
About iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA)
There are 4 members of the management team with an average tenure of 4.37 years: Jennifer Hsui (2012), Peter Sietsema (2025), Matt Waldron (2025) and Steven White (2025). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI ACWI Ex USA NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and MSCI EAFE IMI NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has 2662 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 12.3% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity ETF group. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has 98.1% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 1.3% There is 98.1% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has 0.5% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $186 billion in total assets, which is above 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.
IEFA 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 iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF expense ratio is low compared to funds in the Foreign Large Blend category. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has an expense ratio of 0.07%, which is 82% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a A. 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. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 3%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.3 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 39% for the Foreign Large Blend category.
Recently, in the month of June 2026, iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF returned 0.0%, which earned it a grade of C, as the Foreign Large Blend category had an average return of -0.1%. 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.
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has a trailing yield of 3.40%, which is above the 2.63% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income semi-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.
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 9.9%, 1.0 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of C. The fund has returned 20.0% over the past year (grade of D), 16.6% over the past three years (grade of D) and 8.8% per year over the past five years (grade of C) and 9.8% per year over the past 10 years (grade of D).
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IEFA Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 6/30/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| IEFA Return (NAV) | 0.0% | 8.8% | 20.0% | 16.6% | 8.8% | 9.8% |
| IEFA Return (Price) | 0.1% | 8.4% | 19.9% | 16.5% | 8.8% | 9.7% |
| NAV +/- Price Return | -0.085% | 0.375% | 0.150% | 0.049% | 0.060% | 0.098% |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | -0.1% | 10.5% | 22.3% | 17.2% | 9.0% | 9.7% |
| IEFA Grade (NAV) | C | D | D | D | C | D |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 0.1% | -1.7% | -2.3% | -0.6% | -0.2% | 0.1% |
| IEFA Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.2% | 1.0% | 0.9% | 0.9% |
IEFA Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 6/30/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| IEFA Return (NAV) | 9.9% | 31.8% | 3.4% | 17.6% | -15.1% | 11.3% | 8.5% | 22.7% | -14.2% | 26.4% | 1.4% |
| IEFA Return (Price) | 9.7% | 32.1% | 3.3% | 18.0% | -15.2% | 11.7% | 8.2% | 22.6% | -14.1% | 26.6% | 1.6% |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | -0.022% | 0.008% | -0.035% | 0.020% | 0.005% | 0.032% | -0.044% | -0.2% | -0.5% | 0.6% | 16.0% |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 10.9% | 31.3% | 5.3% | 16.9% | -14.7% | 10.3% | 8.8% | 22.0% | -13.2% | 24.6% | 1.9% |
| IEFA Grade (NAV) | C | C | D | C | C | C | C | C | D | B | D |
| +/- Category | -1.0% | 0.6% | -1.9% | 0.7% | -0.4% | 1.0% | -0.3% | 0.7% | -1.0% | 1.8% | -0.5% |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 0.89 |
| R-Squared: | 89% |
| Standard Deviation: | 13.0% |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.00 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Average |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.07 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 3.4% |
| Total Assets: | $ 186,543 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 186,543 Mil |
| Turnover: | 3.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.07% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI ACWI Ex USA NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Semi-Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 4 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 13.7 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 4.4 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Hsui Jennifer (2012), Sietsema Peter (2025), Waldron Matt (2025), White Steven (2025) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 2662 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 12.3% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 98.1% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 1.3% |
| Foreign Stock: | 98.1% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.2% |
| Cash: | 0.5% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | iShares |
| Phone Number: | 800-474-2737 |
| Website: | au.ishares.com |
| Inception Date: | October 18, 2012 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.07% (Rating: Low) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.39% |
