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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 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • IEFAInvestors who want higher current income (3.25% vs 2.58% for IXUS).
  • IXUSInvestors who want broad equity exposure.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

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 14.33% total return against 18.61%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IXUS has compounded at 9.26% a year, against 9.07% 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.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince Oct 2012Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IEFA9.13%14.33%19.14%8.97%9.07%8.17%15.3%0.861.26-13.8%
IXUS12.78%18.61%21.07%9.39%9.26%7.77%15.5%0.951.38-13.7%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 2, 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.
MetricIEFAIXUS
Full nameiShares Core MSCI EAFE ETFiShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF
IssueriSharesiShares
Underlying indexMSCI EAFE IMI IndexMSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index
Last Close$97.01 as of October 2, 2026$95.58 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate3.25%2.58%
Trailing 12-month yield3.39%2.93%
Distribution Safety Score™ 7577
Safety-Adjusted Yield 2.44%1.99%
Expense ratio0.07%0.07%
AUM$193B$59.7B
Distribution frequencySemi-AnnualSemi-Annual
ObjectiveProvide 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 classEquityEquity
Inception date10/18/201210/18/2012
Beta0.890.92
Last dividend$1.578$1.233
Ex-dividend date06/15/202606/15/2026

Bottom lineChoose IEFA if you want higher current income (3.25% vs 2.58% for IXUS). Choose IXUS if you want broad equity exposure.

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iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4683B

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.

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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 3.25% vs 2.58% 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 ($193B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IEFA would generate roughly $162.50 cash per distribution, while IXUS would produce $129.00 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay semi-annual distributions.

IEFA yield3.25%
IXUS yield2.58%
Cash diff on $10K$33.50

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 $193B in assets. IXUS is managed by iShares (launched 10/18/2012) with $59.7B in assets.

IEFA AUM$193B
IXUS AUM$59.7B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for IEFA and IXUS?

IEFA currently distributes 3.25% and IXUS 2.58%, 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 $162.50 cash per distribution ($325.00 annually). The same in IXUS would produce about $129.00 cash per distribution ($258.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IEFA or IXUS?

IEFA has lagged IXUS over the trailing twelve months, posting a 14.33% total return against 18.61%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: IXUS has compounded at 9.26% a year, against 9.07% for IEFA. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

IEFA vs IXUS — at a glance

Generated October 3, 2026.

Overview

IEFA and IXUS are both iShares core international equity ETFs launched on the same day, but they track different indexes and therefore hold different geographic mixes. IEFA follows the MSCI EAFE IMI Index, which covers developed markets in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. IXUS follows the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index, which includes both developed and emerging markets outside the United States. The key distinction is that IXUS adds emerging-market exposure while IEFA stays within developed markets only.

How they differ

IXUS's broader mandate—emerging markets plus developed international—is the primary structural difference. IEFA's developed-market-only focus means it excludes countries like China, India, Brazil, and Mexico entirely, whereas IXUS includes them. Both charge 0.07%, so cost is a wash. IEFA yields 3.25%, about 67 basis points higher than IXUS's 2.58%, reflecting the dividend tilt of developed markets. Beta readings—0.89 for IEFA versus 0.92 for IXUS—indicate IXUS carries slightly more market sensitivity, consistent with emerging-market inclusion.

Who each is best for

IEFA: Fits investors seeking pure developed-market international exposure without emerging-market volatility or currency risk concentration in frontier economies. Works for those comfortable missing high-growth but cyclical EM exposure and preferring the higher income stream from mature-market dividends.

IXUS: Fits investors wanting a single international holding that captures both developed and emerging markets, accepting the lower yield in exchange for broader geographic diversification and emerging-market growth potential. Suits those building a total-world portfolio who want to avoid overlapping EM exposure elsewhere.

Key risks to know

  • Emerging-market concentration in IXUS. While IXUS adds EM exposure, emerging markets remain a minority of its holdings. Investors must verify whether EM weight matches their intended portfolio EM allocation, as IXUS may not provide sufficient EM access for those targeting a specific emerging-market percentage.
  • Currency exposure differs between funds. IEFA's developed-market focus means euro, pound, yen, and Australian dollar exposure dominate. IXUS adds Chinese yuan, Indian rupee, Brazilian real, and other EM currencies. Currency appreciation or depreciation can significantly drive returns independent of underlying equity performance.
  • Dividend sustainability and valuation cyclicality. IEFA's higher yield reflects current developed-market dividend payout ratios and valuations. If those multiples compress or companies cut payouts during economic slowdown, the yield advantage narrows. IXUS's lower yield offers less cushion against payout cuts.
  • Index overlap risk. Both track MSCI indexes covering the same regions within their respective mandates. Holdings may substantially overlap, particularly in developed-market equities, meaning they could move together more closely than their different geographic scope suggests.

Bottom line

If you want pure developed-market international exposure with higher current income, IEFA's larger asset base and yield advantage stand out; if you prefer a single international holding that captures emerging-market growth alongside developed markets, IXUS fits that role despite its lower distribution rate. Both charge identical fees and track transparent indexes, so the choice hinges on whether your portfolio already has EM coverage and what geographic diversification you're seeking. Past performance of either index does not predict future returns.

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

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The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.