ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.
iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.
See our curated list of related YouTube videos on EFA and IEFA.
MSCI EAFE Index (developed markets ex U.S. and Canada)
MSCI EAFE IMI Index
Objective
Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.
Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.
Asset class
Equity
Equity
Inception date
08/12/2001
10/18/2012
Beta
0.87
0.89
Last dividend
$1.6360
$1.5780
Ex-dividend date
06/15/2026
06/15/2026
Bottom lineEFA and IEFA are nearly interchangeable — both offer very similar stock exposure with very similar cost and risk. The clearest tie-breaker is cost: IEFA is cheaper at 0.07% vs 0.33%.
Most used
Income calculator
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Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.
Total returns
EFA has outpaced IEFA over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.88% total return against 20.86%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IEFA has compounded at 9.52% a year, ahead of EFA at 9.41%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.
Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Oct 2012” measures every fund from October 22, 2012 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.
Quick verdict
EFA (iShares MSCI EAFE ETF) and IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) are both semi-annual-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.
IEFA offers the higher yield at 3.26% vs 3.15% for EFA. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.
IEFA is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.07% compared to 0.33%.
They track different benchmarks: EFA is linked to MSCI EAFE Index (developed markets ex U.S. and Canada) while IEFA tracks MSCI EAFE IMI Index, which means their performance drivers differ.
IEFA is the larger fund by assets ($182B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.
Deep dive
Yield & income
On a $10,000 investment, EFA would generate roughly $26.25/month, while IEFA would produce $27.17/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay semi-annual distributions.
EFA yield3.15%
IEFA yield3.26%
Monthly diff on $10K$0.92
Cost & efficiency
Over 10 years on $10,000, EFA would cost approximately $330 in fees vs $70 for IEFA (simplified, not compounded). The $260.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.
EFA ER0.33%
IEFA ER0.07%
Strategy & risk
EFA tracks MSCI EAFE Index (developed markets ex U.S. and Canada) with an index approach, while IEFA tracks MSCI EAFE IMI Index with an index approach. Beta is 0.87 for EFA and 0.89 for IEFA, indicating EFA is less volatile relative to the market.
EFA beta0.87
IEFA beta0.89
Fund details
EFA is managed by iShares (launched 08/12/2001) with $77.5B in assets. IEFA is managed by iShares (launched 10/18/2012) with $182B in assets.
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Frequently asked questions
Is EFA or IEFA better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. IEFA currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.
What is the difference between EFA and IEFA?
EFA (iShares MSCI EAFE ETF) tracks MSCI EAFE Index (developed markets ex U.S. and Canada) with an index approach, while IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) tracks MSCI EAFE IMI Index with an index approach. They are issued by iShares and iShares respectively.
Can I hold both EFA and IEFA?
Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.
Which has lower fees, EFA or IEFA?
EFA has an expense ratio of 0.33% while IEFA charges 0.07%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.
How much income does $10,000 in EFA vs IEFA generate?
At current rates, $10,000 in EFA would generate roughly $26.25 per month ($315.00 annually). The same in IEFA would produce about $27.17 per month ($326.00 annually).
Which has performed better historically, EFA or IEFA?
EFA has outpaced IEFA over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.88% total return against 20.86%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — IEFA has compounded at 9.52% a year, ahead of EFA at 9.41%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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