ETF Comparison

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

A side-by-side comparison of iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF, iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF, Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated May 20, 2026

BlackRock

ETFs44

Total AUM$3107.6B

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

BlackRock is one of the world's largest asset managers and a major provider of ETFs across multiple investment strategies. The company's dividend-focused lineup emphasizes income-generating investments, with funds designed to deliver regular distributions to investors seeking yield. Their portfolio includes eight notable ETFs such as BALI (emerging markets income), DIVB (dividend equity), and DGRO (dividend growth), alongside complementary funds that span income, growth, and fixed-income strategies.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IEFA and IXUS.

See all BlackRock ETFs

Vanguard

ETFs48

Total AUM$11763.3B

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

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that serve as core portfolio holdings for individual investors. Their fund lineup emphasizes core equity exposure and dividend income strategies, with offerings spanning domestic growth (VGT, VUG), broad market indices (VOO), dividend-focused portfolios (VYM, VIG), and international high dividend yield opportunities (VONG, VYMI). The issuer's seven funds are characterized by expense ratios among the industry's lowest and a focus on long-term, buy-and-hold investors seeking diversified equity exposure.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VEA and VXUS.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

	IEFA	IXUS	VEA	VXUS
Full name	iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF	iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF	Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF	Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Issuer	BlackRock	BlackRock	Vanguard	Vanguard
Last Close	$96.10 as of May 20, 2026	$93.90 as of May 20, 2026	$69.52 as of May 20, 2026	$83.53 as of May 20, 2026
Distribution yield	2.89%	2.51%	2.09%	2.02%
Expense ratio	0.07%	0.07%	0.03%	0.05%
AUM	$180.7B	$56.2B	$304.3B	$629.1B
Distribution frequency	Semi-Annual	Semi-Annual	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	MSCI EAFE IMI Index	MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index	FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index	FTSE Global All Cap ex US 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.	Track the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index.	Track the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, covering non-U.S. developed and emerging stocks.
Asset class	Equity	Equity	Equity	Equity
Inception date	10/18/2012	10/18/2012	07/20/2007	01/26/2011
Beta	0.91	0.93	0.97	0.93
Last dividend	$1.71	$1.57	$0.11	$0.08
Ex-dividend date	12/16/2025	12/16/2025	03/20/2026	03/20/2026

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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.

Quick verdict

IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF), IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF), VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF), VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock ETF) are popular dividend ETFs that take different approaches.

IEFA offers the highest reported yield at 2.89%, followed by IXUS at 2.51%, VEA at 2.09%, VXUS at 2.02%.

VEA is the cheapest with an expense ratio of 0.03%, compared to 0.05% for VXUS and 0.07% for IEFA and 0.07% for IXUS.

VXUS is the largest fund by assets ($629.1B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment: IEFA generates ~$24.08/month, IXUS generates ~$20.92/month, VEA generates ~$17.42/month, VXUS generates ~$16.83/month at current distribution rates.

IEFA yield2.89%

IXUS yield2.51%

VEA yield2.09%

VXUS yield2.02%

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000: IEFA costs ~$70, IXUS costs ~$70, VEA costs ~$30, VXUS costs ~$50 in fees (simplified, not compounded).

IEFA ER0.07%

IXUS ER0.07%

VEA ER0.03%

VXUS ER0.05%

Strategy & risk

IEFA tracks MSCI EAFE IMI Index with an index approach; IXUS tracks MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index with an index approach; VEA tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index with an international approach; VXUS tracks FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index with an international approach.

IEFA beta0.91

IXUS beta0.93

VEA beta0.97

VXUS beta0.93

Fund details

IEFA is managed by BlackRock (launched 10/18/2012) with $180.7B in assets. IXUS is managed by BlackRock (launched 10/18/2012) with $56.2B in assets. VEA is managed by Vanguard (launched 07/20/2007) with $304.3B in assets. VXUS is managed by Vanguard (launched 01/26/2011) with $629.1B in assets.

IEFA AUM$180.7B

IXUS AUM$56.2B

VEA AUM$304.3B

VXUS AUM$629.1B

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Frequently asked questions

Which of IEFA, IXUS, VEA, and VXUS is best for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. IEFA currently offers the highest reported distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility, and funds without an established distribution history have no comparable yield to evaluate. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between IEFA, IXUS, VEA, and VXUS?

IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) tracks MSCI EAFE IMI Index with an index strategy, issued by BlackRock. IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF) tracks MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index with an index strategy, issued by BlackRock. VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index with an international strategy, issued by Vanguard. VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock ETF) tracks FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index with an international strategy, issued by Vanguard.

Can I hold IEFA, IXUS, VEA, and VXUS together?

Yes. Many income investors hold multiple dividend ETFs to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

Which has the lowest fees among IEFA, IXUS, VEA, and VXUS?

IEFA has an expense ratio of 0.07%, IXUS has an expense ratio of 0.07%, VEA has an expense ratio of 0.03%, VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 generate in each?

$10,000 in IEFA yields ~$24.08/month ($289.00/year). $10,000 in IXUS yields ~$20.92/month ($251.00/year). $10,000 in VEA yields ~$17.42/month ($209.00/year). $10,000 in VXUS yields ~$16.83/month ($202.00/year).

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IEFA vs IXUS vs VEA vs VXUS — at a glance

Generated April 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

These four ETFs all track international stock indexes ex-USA, but split between developed markets only (VEA, IEFA) and developed plus emerging markets (VXUS, IXUS). VEA and VXUS are Vanguard funds with ultra-low fees; IEFA and IXUS are iShares equivalents. The key dividing line: whether you want pure developed-market exposure or broader emerging-market inclusion.

How they differ

The biggest split is geographic: VEA and IEFA track developed markets (Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada, etc.), while VXUS and IXUS add emerging markets (China, India, Brazil). VXUS is the largest by AUM at $582 billion; VEA is second at $282 billion. On fees, Vanguard wins: VEA charges 0.03% and VXUS 0.05%, versus 0.07% for both iShares funds—a meaningful gap on a $100k position ($30 vs. $70 annually). Yield follows geography: developed-only funds (VEA at 2.12%, IEFA at 2.88%) pay less than emerging-inclusive peers (VXUS at 2.04%, IXUS at 2.53%), since emerging markets distribute less. VEA pays quarterly; the others semi-annually.

Who each is best for

VEA: Long-term buy-and-hold investors prioritizing the lowest fees and developed-market stability; ideal for core international exposure in any account type.

VXUS: Investors seeking broad geographic diversification including emerging markets at minimal cost; best suited for tax-deferred accounts given quarterly distributions.

IEFA: Investors committed to the iShares ecosystem or those wanting developed-market exposure with higher current yield (2.88%) despite slightly higher fees.

IXUS: Investors wanting emerging-market exposure through iShares while accepting higher expenses than Vanguard's VXUS alternative.

Key risks to know

Emerging-market volatility: VXUS and IXUS carry meaningful exposure to China and other emerging economies, introducing currency and geopolitical risk absent in VEA and IEFA.

Developed-market concentration: VEA and IEFA are heavily weighted to Europe and Japan; a regional slowdown hits harder than in diversified VXUS.

Yield drag on reinvestment: Lower-yielding developed markets (VEA, VXUS) may drag total returns if dividends aren't efficiently reinvested, though this is academic in tax-advantaged accounts.

Currency exposure: All four hold non-USD assets; dollar strength erodes returns for U.S. holders, though the effect varies by regional mix.

Bottom line

If you want the cheapest developed-market-only core holding, VEA is hard to beat at 0.03% and $282 billion in AUM. If you're willing to add emerging markets for diversification and accept slightly higher fees, VXUS ($582 billion, 0.05%) offers scale and Vanguard's operational efficiency. The iShares pair (IEFA, IXUS) work fine but cost more per dollar invested—choose them only if you favor iShares' fund ecosystem or IEFA's higher yield appeals to your strategy. Past performance doesn't predict future results; your choice should hinge on geographic preference and fee sensitivity, not distribution rates.

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