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IEFA vs EEM

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF vs iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

IEFA

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF

iShares

Annual cost

0.07%

Fund size

$180.7B

EEM

iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF

iShares

Annual cost

0.72%

Fund size

$28.1B

Key differences

  • IEFA costs 0.65% less per year.
  • IEFA is significantly larger than EEM — larger funds tend to be more liquid and less likely to close.
  • IEFA covers global ex us markets; EEM covers emerging markets.
  • Over the last 3 years, EEM has delivered higher annualized returns.
  • EEM has a longer track record, which may reduce uncertainty around long-term behavior.

Side-by-side comparison

IEFAEEM
Annual cost (TER)0.07%0.72%
Fund size (AUM)$180.7B$28.1B
Since20122003
Dividend yield3.32%1.91%
Asset classequityequity
Regionglobal ex usemerging markets
Strategyindex trackingindex tracking
CAGR 1Y+23.4%+46.1%
CAGR 3Y+16.3%+21.9%
CAGR 5Y+8.7%+7.0%
Sharpe 3Y0.841.00
Volatility 1Y15.03%19.54%
Max drawdown-34.79%-39.82%

Green dot indicates the better value for that metric. Performance data is historical and does not predict future results.

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