iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF
IEFA InternationalUpdated: Jul 4, 2026, 21:17 UTC
Key Metrics
Top 10 Holdings
| Holding | Ticker | Weight | Bar |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML Holding NV | ASML.AS | 2.46% | |
| HSBC Holdings PLC | HSBA.L | 1.26% | |
| Roche Holding AG Ordinary Shares new | ROP.SW | 1.16% | |
| AstraZeneca PLC | AZN.L | 1.11% | |
| Novartis AG Registered Shares | NOVN.SW | 1.08% | |
| Nestle SA | NESN.SW | 1.02% | |
| Shell PLC | SHEL.L | 0.92% | |
| Siemens AG | SIE.DE | 0.92% | |
| BHP Group Ltd | BHP.AX | 0.89% | |
| Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 8306.T | 0.79% |
Sector Allocation
About This ETF
The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is a International ETF with an expense ratio (TER) of 0.07% and $186.6B in assets under management., with its largest holdings being ASML Holding NV, HSBC Holdings PLC, Roche Holding AG Ordinary Shares new. The ETF currently yields 3.24% in dividends. Year-to-date, IEFA has returned +9.46%. With an expense ratio of just 0.07%, it is one of the cheapest ETFs in its category.
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.
FAQ — IEFA
What is the TER of IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF)?
IEFA has a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.07 % per year. That sits below the international category median (0.32 % across 13 peer ETFs). The TER is deducted directly from the fund and lowers your effective return.
What return has IEFA delivered?
Performance for IEFA: YTD: +9.46 % · 3-year p.a.: +16.79 % · 5-year p.a.: +8.77 %. Over 5 years, IEFA outperforms the international category median of +8.50 % by +0.27 pp. Past performance is no guarantee of future returns.
What are the top holdings of IEFA?
The five largest positions in IEFA are: ASML.AS, HSBA.L, ROP.SW, AZN.L, NOVN.SW. The full holdings list is updated daily on this page.
Does IEFA pay dividends?
IEFA has a current dividend yield of 3.24 %. Distributing ETFs pay this out in cash; accumulating versions reinvest it inside the fund. Check the share class on your broker before buying.
Where can I buy or set up a savings plan for IEFA?
IEFA is available at most major brokers. For a free monthly savings plan from €1, look at Trade Republic, Scalable Capital or Flatex. The broker comparison on this site shows fees, free-savings-plan ETFs and execution exchanges side by side.
What Is the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF?
The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) tracks the equity markets of developed countries outside the United States and Canada — Europe, Australasia and the Far East. With 180.7 billion USD in assets and an expense ratio of just 0.07 %, it ranks among the cheapest building blocks for international diversification. It captures large-, mid- and small-cap companies and deliberately complements a US-heavy portfolio with developed markets such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Germany.
Performance Overview
IEFA delivered an 8.41 % return year-to-date, 17.28 % over three years and 8.51 % over five years. Its dividend yield of 3.32 % sits well above that of typical US benchmarks. Performance is carried by heavyweights such as ASML Holding (2.21 %), HSBC, AstraZeneca, Roche and Novartis. By sector, financial services (22.86 %) and industrials (20.56 %) dominate, followed by technology (10.21 %) and healthcare (9.84 %).
A key driver for euro-area investors is currency movement: a weaker US dollar or strengthening foreign currencies can further shape returns. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Risk Profile
IEFA bundles several risk types investors should understand:
- Currency risk: The fund is denominated in US dollars but holds securities priced in euros, pounds, yen, francs and other currencies. For euro-area investors this creates a double exchange-rate exposure — to the dollar and to the underlying local currencies.
- Geographic concentration: Japan and Europe make up a large share, so political or economic weakness there feeds through directly.
- Sector weighting: Financials and industrials together exceed 43 % and react sensitively to interest-rate and economic cycles.
- Market risk: At 95.4 % of its 52-week range, the near-term pullback potential is elevated.
Who Is It Suitable For?
IEFA suits long-term investors with a horizon of at least seven to ten years who want to deliberately broaden a typically US-dominated portfolio with developed markets outside North America. Its low 0.07 % expense ratio and 3.32 % dividend yield make it a solid core holding for buy-and-hold strategies and regular savings plans.
It is less suitable for investors with a short time horizon, low tolerance for currency swings, or a desire for emerging-market exposure — IEFA contains only developed markets and no emerging markets. Anyone wishing to cover China, India or Brazil will need a complementary building block alongside it.
How It Compares
Within the international equity segment, IEFA competes with several established funds:
- VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets): Nearly identical developed-markets ex-US focus at similarly low cost, though it tracks a FTSE index and includes some Canada and South Korea exposure.
- VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock): Broader in scope because it also includes emerging markets — the more comprehensive choice versus IEFA's developed-only focus.
- IEMG (iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets): Not a direct rival but an ideal complement, covering the emerging-market exposure that IEFA deliberately excludes.
Where can I buy IEFA?
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