iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF

IEFA

Market cap $181B

IEFA boasts a higher dividend yield and more assets under management than SPGM. SPGM delivers stronger five-year growth, but IEFA has outpaced it over the past year.

According to YCharts the Franklin International Dividend Booster Index ETF (XIDV) has returned 8.95% year-to-date, narrowly outperforming the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA), which is up 8.75% over the same period. At first glance, the difference may appear modest.

IEFA carries a higher yield and even larger asset base than SCHE. Both funds charge the same low expense ratio but differ in geographic and sector exposure.

IEFA offers higher recent returns and a significantly higher dividend yield than SPGM. SPGM provides broader global exposure including U.S. and emerging markets, while IEFA focuses on developed markets outside North America.

IEFA has a slightly lower expense ratio and offers a higher dividend yield than IEMG. IEMG has outperformed IEFA over the past year, but IEFA has shown much higher price gains over a five-year period.

IEFA carries an identical expense ratio to IXUS but offers a slightly higher dividend yield. IXUS delivered a stronger 1-year return and covers a broader set of international stocks, including emerging markets.

IEFA charges a lower expense ratio and nearly doubles the dividend yield of NZAC's. IEFA's recent one-year return outpaced NZAC, but both saw similar five-year drawdowns.

IEFA costs slightly less than IEMG and offers a higher dividend yield IEMG delivered a stronger 1-year return and experienced a steeper maximum drawdown, but IEFA had higher 5-year returns. IEFA focuses on developed markets, while IEMG targets emerging markets with a tech and financial tilt These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›

VXUS covers both developed and emerging markets, while IEFA focuses only on developed markets excluding the U.S. and Canada. IEFA offers a slightly higher dividend yield but VXUS has outperformed on 1-year total return as of Jan. 30, 2026.

Even with an impressive run that's seen the MSCI EAFE Index easily outpace the S&P 500 since the start of last year, the widely followed gauge of ex-US developed market equities sports a trailing 12-month dividend yield of 3.36%, or about triple what's found on the domestic benchmark.