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iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA)
Performance
Return for Risk
Dividends
Drawdowns
Volatility

ETF Info

ISIN
US4642874659
CUSIP
464287465
Issuer
iShares
Inception Date
Aug 14, 2001
Region
Developed Markets (EAFE)
Leveraged
1x (No leverage)
Index Tracked
MSCI EAFE Index
Distribution Policy
Distributing
Asset Class
Equity
Asset Class Size
Large-Cap
Asset Class Style
Blend

Share Price Chart


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Performance

Performance Chart

The chart shows the growth of an initial investment of $10,000 in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, comparing it to the performance of the S&P 500 index or another benchmark. All prices have been adjusted for splits and dividends.


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S&P 500 Index

Returns By Period

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) has returned 1.15% so far this year and 23.09% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, EFA has returned 8.77% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 12.16% annually.


iShares MSCI EAFE ETF

1D
3.25%
1M
-7.83%
YTD
1.15%
6M
5.91%
1Y
23.09%
3Y*
14.36%
5Y*
8.10%
10Y*
8.77%

Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)

1D
2.91%
1M
-5.09%
YTD
-4.63%
6M
-2.39%
1Y
16.33%
3Y*
16.69%
5Y*
10.18%
10Y*
12.16%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Monthly Returns

Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Aug 17, 2001, EFA's average daily return is +0.03%, while the average monthly return is +0.62%. At this rate, your investment would double in approximately 9.3 years.

Historically, 60% of months were positive and 40% were negative. The best month was Nov 2020 with a return of +14.3%, while the worst month was Oct 2008 at -20.8%. The longest winning streak lasted 12 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 6 months.

On a daily basis, EFA closed higher 53% of trading days. The best single day was Oct 13, 2008 with a return of +15.9%, while the worst single day was Sep 29, 2008 at -11.2%.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
20264.90%4.61%-7.83%1.15%
20254.80%2.95%0.18%3.70%4.79%2.40%-2.09%4.52%2.07%1.20%0.74%2.71%31.55%
2024-0.45%2.99%3.38%-3.24%5.06%-1.83%2.59%3.26%0.78%-5.27%-0.32%-2.95%3.49%
20239.00%-3.07%3.13%2.94%-4.01%4.47%2.70%-3.93%-3.65%-2.90%8.22%5.35%18.36%
2022-3.63%-3.43%0.52%-6.74%2.00%-8.77%5.17%-6.12%-9.22%5.89%13.17%-1.81%-14.39%
2021-0.78%2.24%2.51%2.95%3.48%-1.08%0.77%1.45%-3.26%3.18%-4.53%4.39%11.45%

Benchmark Metrics

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has an annualized alpha of -0.12%, beta of 0.95, and R² of 0.75 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since August 20, 2001.

  • This ETF participated in 98.61% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 93.76% of its upside — more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
  • With beta of 0.95 and R² of 0.75, this ETF moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index — much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.

Alpha
-0.12%
Beta
0.95
0.75
Upside Capture
93.76%
Downside Capture
98.61%

Expense Ratio

EFA has an expense ratio of 0.32%, placing it in the medium range.


Return for Risk

Risk / Return Rank

EFA ranks 71 for risk / return — better than 71% of ETFs on our site. You're getting solid returns for the risk taken. A good sign, especially for investors who want growth without excessive volatility.


EFA Risk / Return Rank: 7171
Overall Rank
EFA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7272
Sharpe Ratio Rank
EFA Sortino Ratio Rank: 7272
Sortino Ratio Rank
EFA Omega Ratio Rank: 7171
Omega Ratio Rank
EFA Calmar Ratio Rank: 7272
Calmar Ratio Rank
EFA Martin Ratio Rank: 7070
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

Return / Risk — by metrics

The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) and compare them to a chosen benchmark (S&P 500 Index).


EFABenchmarkDifference

Sharpe ratio

Return per unit of total volatility

1.31

0.90

+0.42

Sortino ratio

Return per unit of downside risk

1.87

1.39

+0.49

Omega ratio

Gain probability vs. loss probability

1.27

1.21

+0.06

Calmar ratio

Return relative to maximum drawdown

1.93

1.40

+0.53

Martin ratio

Return relative to average drawdown

7.39

6.61

+0.78

Explore EFA risk-adjusted metrics in detail

Dive deeper into individual metrics with historical trends, benchmark comparisons, and performance across different time periods.

Dividends

Dividend History

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF provided a 3.34% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $3.25 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 3 consecutive years.


2.20%2.40%2.60%2.80%3.00%3.20%3.40%$0.00$0.50$1.00$1.50$2.00$2.50$3.00$3.5020152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Dividends
Dividend Yield
PeriodTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
Dividend$3.25$3.25$2.45$2.24$1.77$2.62$1.55$2.15$1.99$1.80$1.77$1.62

Dividend yield

3.34%3.38%3.24%2.98%2.69%3.33%2.13%3.10%3.39%2.57%3.07%2.76%

Monthly Dividends

The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.


JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecTotal
2026$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00
2025$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$1.52$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$1.73$3.25
2024$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$1.39$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$1.06$2.45
2023$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$1.31$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.93$2.24
2022$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$1.50$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.27$1.77
2021$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$1.10$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$0.00$1.52$2.62

Drawdowns

Drawdowns Chart

The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.


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Worst Drawdowns

The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.

The maximum drawdown for the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF was 61.04%, occurring on Mar 9, 2009. Recovery took 1321 trading sessions.

The current iShares MSCI EAFE ETF drawdown is 8.07%.


Depth

Start

To Bottom

Bottom

To Recover

End

Total

-61.04%Nov 1, 2007339Mar 9, 20091321Jun 6, 20141660
-34.19%Jan 29, 2018541Mar 23, 2020166Nov 16, 2020707
-31.4%Aug 27, 2001384Mar 12, 2003150Oct 14, 2003534
-29.53%Sep 8, 2021266Sep 27, 2022350Feb 20, 2024616
-22.97%May 22, 2015183Feb 11, 2016309May 4, 2017492

Volatility

Volatility Chart

The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.


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