IEFA vs VXUS
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares
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.
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares (VXUS) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to international stocks across both developed and emerging markets. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.05%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 2.93%. Launched in 2011, the fund has a 15-year track record.
Quick Verdict
VXUS has a slightly lower expense ratio (0.05% vs 0.07%), saving about $40 per $10,000 over 10 years. VXUS has edged ahead over the past year (25.3% vs 21.2%). Income investors may prefer IEFA for its higher yield (3.5% vs 2.9%).
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
3 of top 9 holdings overlap (33% 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% |
VXUS Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited!tpe/2330 | 3.43% |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.!krx/005930 | 1.59% |
| ASML Holding N.V.!ams/ASML | 1.29% |
| Tencent Holdings Limited!hkg/0700 | 0.92% |
| SK hynix Inc.!krx/000660 | 0.91% |
| Roche Holding AGROC1.L | 0.76% |
| Alibaba Group Holding Limited!hkg/9988 | 0.73% |
| Novartis AG!swx/NOVN | 0.73% |
| HSBC Holdings plc!lon/HSBA | 0.73% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose VXUS if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose VXUS 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.