ETF Comparison

IEFA vs IXUS: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF and iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Updated October 14, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

IEFAInvestors who want higher current income (3.29% vs 2.64% for IXUS).
IXUSInvestors who want broad equity exposure.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

IEFA has lagged IXUS over the trailing twelve months, posting a 13.87% total return against 17.13%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IXUS has compounded at 9.27% a year, against 9.20% for IEFA. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
Symbol	YTD cumulative	1Y cumulative	3Y annualized	5Y annualized	10Y annualized	Since Oct 2012	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
IEFA	8.92%	13.87%	18.45%	8.41%	9.20%	8.06%	15.2%	0.82	1.21	-13.8%
IXUS	11.97%	17.13%	20.04%	8.52%	9.27%	7.58%	15.5%	0.89	1.30	-13.7%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 14, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Oct 2012” measures every fund from October 22, 2012 — the start of shared available history — 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
Metric	IEFA	IXUS
Full name	iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF	iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF
Issuer	iShares	iShares
Underlying index	MSCI EAFE IMI Index	MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index
Last Close	$95.87 as of October 14, 2026	$93.56 as of October 14, 2026
Distribution rate	3.29%	2.64%
Trailing 12-month yield	3.43%	3.00%
Distribution Safety Score™	75	77
Safety-Adjusted Yield	2.47%	2.03%
Expense ratio	0.07%	0.07%
AUM	$189B	$58.6B
Distribution frequency	Semi-Annual	Semi-Annual
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	10/18/2012	10/18/2012
Beta	0.89	0.92
Last dividend	$1.578	$1.233
Ex-dividend date	06/15/2026	06/15/2026

Bottom lineChoose IEFA if you want higher current income (3.29% vs 2.64% for IXUS). Choose IXUS if you want broad equity exposure.

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iShares

ETFs467

Total AUM$4.70T

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

iShares, operated by BlackRock, is one of the largest and most established ETF providers globally, known for offering broad, liquid index-tracking funds across nearly all asset classes and investment styles. The lineup encompasses a comprehensive range of strategies including core equity and bond exposure, dividend and income-focused funds, covered call strategies, ESG and thematic investments, factor-based approaches, alternatives, commodities, and municipal bonds, serving both individual and institutional investors. With numerous popular ticker symbols and extensive diversification across geographies, sectors, and investment objectives, iShares provides one of the market's widest selections of ETFs for building diversified portfolios.

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Quick verdict

IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) and IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF) are both semi-annual-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

IEFA offers the higher yield at 3.29% vs 2.64% for IXUS. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They have different reference exposures: IEFA is linked to MSCI EAFE IMI Index while IXUS is linked to MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

IEFA is the larger fund by assets ($189B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

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Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IEFA would generate roughly $164.50 cash per distribution, while IXUS would produce $132.00 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay semi-annual distributions.

IEFA yield3.29%

IXUS yield2.64%

Cash diff on $10K$32.50

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IEFA would cost approximately $70 in fees vs $70 for IXUS (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

IEFA ER0.07%

IXUS ER0.07%

Strategy & risk

IEFA tracks MSCI EAFE IMI Index with an international approach, while IXUS tracks MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index with an index approach. Beta is 0.89 for IEFA and 0.92 for IXUS — effectively similar market sensitivity.

IEFA beta0.89

IXUS beta0.92

Fund details

IEFA is managed by iShares (launched 10/18/2012) with $189B in assets. IXUS is managed by iShares (launched 10/18/2012) with $58.6B in assets.

IEFA AUM$189B

IXUS AUM$58.6B

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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for IEFA and IXUS?

IEFA currently distributes 3.29% and IXUS 2.64%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

Is IEFA or IXUS 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 IEFA and IXUS?

IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) tracks MSCI EAFE IMI Index with an international approach, while IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF) tracks MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index with an index approach. They are issued by iShares and iShares respectively.

Can I hold both IEFA and IXUS?

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.

Is IEFA or IXUS safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — they are effectively tied: IXUS scores 77, IEFA scores 75. Neither has a clear safety edge on that measure. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, IEFA or IXUS?

IEFA and IXUS both charge the same expense ratio of 0.07%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

How much income does $10,000 in IEFA vs IXUS generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in IEFA would generate roughly $164.50 cash per distribution ($329.00 annually). The same in IXUS would produce about $132.00 cash per distribution ($264.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IEFA or IXUS?

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Dividend dates and history

IEFA vs IXUS — at a glance

Generated October 10, 2026.

Overview

Both IEFA and IXUS are iShares equity ETFs tracking broad international stock indexes with identical expense ratios and semi-annual distributions. This makes IXUS geographically wider but also higher-volatility.

How they differ

IXUS includes emerging-market exposure that IEFA excludes—that's the structural difference. IEFA yields 3.29% against IXUS's 2.64%, a gap of 0.65% percentage points, likely reflecting developed markets' higher dividend payout ratios. Both charge 0.07%, so costs are identical. IEFA holds roughly $189B in assets, more than triple IXUS's $58.6B, giving IEFA a larger base. Beta-wise, IEFA registers 0.89 versus IXUS at 0.92, suggesting slightly lower volatility for the developed-markets-only fund.

Who each is best for

IEFA: Fits investors seeking pure developed-market international equity exposure with a modest yield tilt and measurably lower expected volatility than a broader global ex-US allocation.

IXUS: Fits investors who want emerging-market participation alongside developed-market diversification and are comfortable with the higher volatility that emerging-market addition introduces.

Key risks to know

Emerging-market currency and political risk. IXUS's emerging-market holdings expose investors to sharper currency swings and regulatory shifts in markets like China, India, and Brazil that IEFA avoids entirely.

Developed-market concentration. IEFA's focus on Europe, Japan, and Australia means stronger exposure to a narrower set of developed economies; economic stress in those regions disproportionately affects the fund.

Yield sustainability in both. Neither fund's yield is exotic, but IEFA's 3.29% comes from developed-market dividend stocks, which can contract sharply in recessions; IXUS's lower 2.64% reflects emerging-market companies' lower payout propensity.

Beta divergence under stress. IXUS's 0.92 suggests slightly higher market sensitivity than IEFA's 0.89; in equity downturns, IXUS may decline more steeply.

Bottom line

If you want developed-market-only international exposure with a higher current yield and lower expected volatility, IEFA stands out; if you're comfortable trading some yield and stability for emerging-market diversification, IXUS offers broader geographic reach. Both carry identical fees and inception dates, so the choice hinges on whether emerging markets fit your risk tolerance and return outlook. Past performance doesn't predict future results.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.