XEF.TO Alternatives & Similar ETFs

iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.TO) belongs to the Foreign Large Cap Equities category. Below you'll find alternative ETFs from the same category, ranked by key criteria, plus funds that investors commonly compare with XEF.TO. Use the tables to find lower-cost options, better risk-adjusted returns, or a closer substitute for your current allocation.

Cheapest Alternatives to XEF.TO

XEF.TO charges 0.23% annually. There are 2 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with lower expense ratios, going as low as 0.17%.

Symbol	Name	Expense Ratio	AUM	Inception
QDX.TO	Mackenzie International Equity Index ETF	0.17%	1.72B	Jan 2018	XEF.TO vs QDX.TO
ZEA.TO	BMO MSCI EAFE Index ETF	0.22%	13.26B	Feb 2014	XEF.TO vs ZEA.TO
FLUR.NEO	Franklin International Equity Index ETF	0.27%	—	Feb 2019	XEF.TO vs FLUR.NEO
XSEA.TO	iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE Index ETF	0.28%	368.09M	Mar 2019	XEF.TO vs XSEA.TO
XDSR.TO	iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE Index ETF	0.28%	967.06M	Apr 2020	XEF.TO vs XDSR.TO

Best Risk-Adjusted Alternatives to XEF.TO

XEF.TO has a PortfoliosLab risk / return rank of 61. There are 7 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with higher risk-adjusted ranks, going as high as 93.

Symbol	Name	Risk / Return Rank	AUM	Inception
RIDH.TO	RBC Quant EAFE Dividend Leaders (CAD Hedged) ETF	93	156.05M	Oct 2014	XEF.TO vs RIDH.TO
FCIV.TO	Fidelity International Value ETF	85	2.31B	Jun 2025	XEF.TO vs FCIV.TO
VIDY.TO	Vanguard FTSE Developed ex North America High Divi...	85	2.00B	Aug 2018	XEF.TO vs VIDY.TO
ZXM.TO	CI Morningstar International Momentum Index ETF Co...	84	150.80M	Nov 2014	XEF.TO vs ZXM.TO
FCRI.TO	Franklin International Core Equity Fund ETF Series	78	—	Jan 2026	XEF.TO vs FCRI.TO

Top Performing XEF.TO Alternatives (YTD)

XEF.TO is at 12.66% YTD. There are 10 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with higher YTD returns, going as high as 17.37%.

Symbol	Name	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
FCIV.TO	Fidelity International Value ETF	17.37%	2.31B	Jun 2025	XEF.TO vs FCIV.TO
VIDY.TO	Vanguard FTSE Developed ex North America High Divi...	16.04%	2.00B	Aug 2018	XEF.TO vs VIDY.TO
RIDH.TO	RBC Quant EAFE Dividend Leaders (CAD Hedged) ETF	15.49%	156.05M	Oct 2014	XEF.TO vs RIDH.TO
XDSR.TO	iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE Index ETF	15.42%	967.06M	Apr 2020	XEF.TO vs XDSR.TO
ZXM.TO	CI Morningstar International Momentum Index ETF Co...	15.24%	150.80M	Nov 2014	XEF.TO vs ZXM.TO

Lowest Volatility Alternatives to XEF.TO

XEF.TO has 14.46% 1-year volatility. There are 8 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with lower 1-year volatility, going as low as 8.44%.

Symbol	Name	Volatility 1Y	AUM	Inception
ZLD.TO	BMO Low Volatility International Equity Hedged to ...	8.44%	32.94M	Feb 2016	XEF.TO vs ZLD.TO
ZLI.TO	BMO Low Volatility International Equity ETF	10.40%	284.95M	Sep 2015	XEF.TO vs ZLI.TO
ZWE.TO	BMO Europe High Dividend Covered Call Hedged to CA...	11.08%	765.75M	Sep 2015	XEF.TO vs ZWE.TO
TILV.TO	TD Q International Low Volatility ETF	11.29%	130.72M	May 2019	XEF.TO vs TILV.TO
RIDH.TO	RBC Quant EAFE Dividend Leaders (CAD Hedged) ETF	12.02%	156.05M	Oct 2014	XEF.TO vs RIDH.TO

Lowest Drawdown Alternatives to XEF.TO

XEF.TO has a 1-year max drawdown of -11.27%. There are 13 ETFs in the Foreign Large Cap Equities category with shallower 1-year drawdowns, going as shallow as -7.09%.

Symbol	Name	Max Drawdown 1Y	AUM	Inception
ZLD.TO	BMO Low Volatility International Equity Hedged to ...	-7.09%	32.94M	Feb 2016	XEF.TO vs ZLD.TO
TILV.TO	TD Q International Low Volatility ETF	-7.11%	130.72M	May 2019	XEF.TO vs TILV.TO
ZLI.TO	BMO Low Volatility International Equity ETF	-8.37%	284.95M	Sep 2015	XEF.TO vs ZLI.TO
FCIV.TO	Fidelity International Value ETF	-8.59%	2.31B	Jun 2025	XEF.TO vs FCIV.TO
RIDH.TO	RBC Quant EAFE Dividend Leaders (CAD Hedged) ETF	-8.67%	156.05M	Oct 2014	XEF.TO vs RIDH.TO

Other ETFs from iShares

The 10 most viewed iShares ETFs shown here include XEQT.TO, XDIV.TO, XEI.TO and span 7 categories. AUM among these funds goes as high as $31B.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
XEQT.TO	iShares Core Equity ETF Portfolio	Global Equities	85	13.88%	20.34B	Aug 2019	XEF.TO vs XEQT.TO
XDIV.TO	iShares Core MSCI Canadian Quality Dividend Index ...	Dividend, Large Cap Value Equities	98	25.21%	5.78B	Jun 2017	XEF.TO vs XDIV.TO
XEI.TO	iShares S&P/TSX Composite High Dividend Index ETF	Canada Equities	98	26.33%	4.25B	Apr 2011	XEF.TO vs XEI.TO
XIC.TO	iShares Core S&P/TSX Capped Composite Index ETF	Canada Equities	88	12.69%	31.16B	Feb 2001	XEF.TO vs XIC.TO
XIU.TO	iShares S&P/TSX 60 Index ETF	Canada Equities	92	13.59%	23.77B	Sep 1999	XEF.TO vs XIU.TO
XQQ.TO	iShares NASDAQ 100 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)	Nasdaq-100	43	15.75%	5.51B	May 2011	XEF.TO vs XQQ.TO
XGRO.TO	iShares Core Growth ETF Portfolio	Diversified Portfolio	74	11.24%	5.03B	Jun 2007	XEF.TO vs XGRO.TO
XUS.TO	iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF	S&P 500	77	13.50%	13.11B	Apr 2013	XEF.TO vs XUS.TO
XAW.TO	iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Inde...	Global Equities	80	14.66%	4.49B	Feb 2015	XEF.TO vs XAW.TO
XSP.TO	iShares Core S&P 500 Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)	S&P 500	56	9.35%	15.74B	May 2001	XEF.TO vs XSP.TO

Often Compared With XEF.TO

Investors most often compare XEF.TO with VIU.TO, XEC.TO, XFH.TO. These 20 comparison targets span 7 categories, based on PortfoliosLab usage data.

Symbol	Name	Category	Risk / Return Rank	YTD Return	AUM	Inception
VIU.TO	Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex North America I...	International Equity	71	17.18%	11.04B	Dec 2015	XEF.TO vs VIU.TO
XEC.TO	iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets IMI Index ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	72	22.31%	4.56B	Apr 2013	XEF.TO vs XEC.TO
XFH.TO	iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)	Global Equities	74	12.09%	3.13B	Feb 2015	XEF.TO vs XFH.TO
IEFA	iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	48	10.08%	187.22B	Oct 2012	XEF.TO vs IEFA
XEF-U.TO	iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF	Global Equities	48	9.98%	—	Apr 2013	XEF.TO vs XEF-U.TO
XIN.TO	iShares MSCI EAFE Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)	Global Equities	69	12.04%	1.92B	Sep 2001	XEF.TO vs XIN.TO
VXC.TO	Vanguard FTSE Global All Cap ex Canada Index ETF	Global Equities	79	14.43%	3.47B	Jun 2014	XEF.TO vs VXC.TO
EFA	iShares MSCI EAFE ETF	Foreign Large Cap Equities	48	9.97%	77.15B	Aug 2001	XEF.TO vs EFA
XEU.TO	iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF	Europe Equities	46	10.05%	680.79M	Apr 2014	XEF.TO vs XEU.TO
VXUS	Vanguard Total International Stock ETF	Global Equities	59	12.84%	652.30B	Jan 2011	XEF.TO vs VXUS
VEF.TO	Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap Ex US	Global Equities	82	15.94%	1.30B	Nov 2011	XEF.TO vs VEF.TO
XEH.TO	iShares MSCI Europe IMI Index ETF (CAD-Hedged)	Europe Equities	51	9.87%	292.04M	Apr 2014	XEF.TO vs XEH.TO
ZSP.TO	BMO S&P 500 Index ETF	S&P 500	77	13.48%	24.35B	Nov 2012	XEF.TO vs ZSP.TO
VDU.TO	Vanguard FTSE Developed All Cap ex U.S. Index ETF	Global Equities	73	16.41%	842.01M	Aug 2013	XEF.TO vs VDU.TO
XEM.TO	iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	73	23.32%	474.45M	Jun 2009	XEF.TO vs XEM.TO
VE.TO	Vanguard FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index ETF	Europe Equities	45	10.11%	670.66M	Jun 2014	XEF.TO vs VE.TO
TPE.TO	TD International Equity Index ETF	International Equity	60	12.75%	5.50B	Mar 2016	XEF.TO vs TPE.TO
XUU.TO	iShares Core S&P U.S. Total Market Index ETF	Large Cap Blend Equities	75	14.26%	4.63B	Feb 2015	XEF.TO vs XUU.TO
ZEM.TO	BMO MSCI Emerging Markets Index ETF	Emerging Markets Equities	73	23.27%	3.45B	Oct 2009	XEF.TO vs ZEM.TO
XMW.TO	iShares MSCI Min Vol Global Index ETF	Global Equities	35	5.86%	170.83M	Jul 2012	XEF.TO vs XMW.TO

Compare XEF.TO with Any Fund or Stock

Compare XEF.TO with any ETF, mutual fund, or stock using PortfoliosLab's comparison tool.

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Diversifiers

Pair XEF.TO with funds that move differently

iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF alternatives help with substitution. Diversifiers are the next step when you want funds with lower historical correlation to XEF.TO.

Explore XEF.TO Diversifiers

iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF.TO) Alternatives