IEFA vs IEMG
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF vs iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-02
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to equities in developed international markets outside the U.S.. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.07%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.46%. Launched in 2012, the fund has a 14-year track record.
iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to stocks in emerging market economies with higher growth potential. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.09%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 2.63%. Launched in 2012, the fund has a 14-year track record.
Quick Verdict
IEFA has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.07% vs 0.09%), saving about $40 per $10,000 over 10 years. Over the past year, IEMG has significantly outperformed with a 29.6% return vs 21.2%. Income investors may prefer IEFA for its higher yield (3.5% vs 2.6%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
0 of top 10 holdings overlap (0% overlap in top holdings)
IEFA Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V.!ams/ASML | 2.18% |
| AstraZeneca PLC!lon/AZN | 1.25% |
| Novartis AG!swx/NOVN | 1.21% |
| Roche Holding AG!swx/ROP | 1.17% |
| HSBC Holdings plc!lon/HSBA | 1.16% |
| Shell plc!lon/SHEL | 1.12% |
| Nestlé S.A.!swx/NESN | 1.05% |
| Toyota Motor Corporation!tyo/7203 | 0.85% |
| Commonwealth Bank of Australia!asx/CBA | 0.85% |
| Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.!tyo/8306 | 0.81% |
IEMG Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited!tpe/2330 | 11.60% |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.!krx/005930 | 4.66% |
| Tencent Holdings Limited!hkg/0700 | 3.32% |
| SK hynix Inc.!krx/000660 | 2.75% |
| Alibaba Group Holding Limited!hkg/9988 | 2.22% |
| China Construction Bank Corporation!hkg/0939 | 0.82% |
| Delta Electronics, Inc.!tpe/2308 | 0.76% |
| HDFC Bank Limited!nse/HDFCBANK | 0.75% |
| Reliance Industries Limited!nse/RELIANCE | 0.71% |
| Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.!tpe/2317 | 0.65% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose IEFA if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose IEMG if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose IEFA if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.