BRK-B vs. IEFA
BRK-B (Berkshire Hathaway Inc.) is a stock, while IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) is Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net). Over the past 10 years, BRK-B returned 13.14%/yr vs 9.37%/yr for IEFA. A 0.57 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined.
Performance
BRK-B vs. IEFA - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, BRK-B achieves a -3.11% return, which is significantly lower than IEFA's 7.49% return. Over the past 10 years, BRK-B has outperformed IEFA with an annualized return of 13.14%, while IEFA has yielded a comparatively lower 9.37% annualized return.
BRK-B
- 1D
- -0.23%
- 1M
- 2.32%
- YTD
- -3.11%
- 6M
- -2.06%
- 1Y
- -1.32%
- 3Y*
- 13.25%
- 5Y*
- 11.03%
- 10Y*
- 13.14%
IEFA
- 1D
- 0.63%
- 1M
- -1.17%
- YTD
- 7.49%
- 6M
- 10.04%
- 1Y
- 19.61%
- 3Y*
- 16.13%
- 5Y*
- 7.82%
- 10Y*
- 9.37%
BRK-B vs. IEFA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | -3.11% | 10.89% | 27.09% | 15.46% | 3.31% | 28.95% | 2.37% | 10.93% | 3.01% | 21.62% |
IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 7.49% | 32.08% | 3.26% | 17.95% | -15.24% | 11.63% | 8.18% | 22.64% | -14.14% | 26.57% |
Correlation
The correlation between BRK-B and IEFA is 0.17, which is low. Their price movements are largely independent, making them effective diversification partners.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.17 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.33 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.47 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.53 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 25, 2012 | 0.57 |
Over the past year, the correlation between BRK-B and IEFA has dropped to 0.17 - well below their long-term average of 0.57, suggesting their price drivers have been diverging.
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Return for Risk
BRK-B vs. IEFA — Risk / Return Rank
BRK-B
IEFA
BRK-B vs. IEFA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| BRK-B | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -1.39 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -1.90 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.00 | 1.24 | -0.24 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | -0.14 | 1.71 | -1.85 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | -0.30 | 6.52 | -6.81 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| BRK-B | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.09 | 1.30 | -1.39 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.65 | 0.47 | +0.17 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.68 | 0.54 | +0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.48 | 0.50 | -0.02 |
Drawdowns
BRK-B vs. IEFA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum BRK-B drawdown since its inception was -53.86%, which is greater than IEFA's maximum drawdown of -34.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for BRK-B and IEFA.
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Drawdown Indicators
| BRK-B | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -53.86% | -34.78% | -19.08% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -9.42% | -11.50% | +2.08% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -14.95% | -13.76% | -1.19% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -26.58% | -30.41% | +3.83% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -29.57% | -34.78% | +5.21% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -9.78% | -2.44% | -7.34% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -11.07% | -6.69% | -4.38% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 4.49% | 3.02% | +1.47% |
Volatility
BRK-B vs. IEFA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK-B) is 3.98%, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) has a volatility of 4.54%. This indicates that BRK-B experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IEFA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| BRK-B | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.98% | 4.54% | -0.56% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 10.87% | 12.74% | -1.87% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.38% | 15.22% | -0.84% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.13% | 16.55% | +0.58% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.44% | 17.32% | +2.12% |
Dividends
BRK-B vs. IEFA - Dividend Comparison
BRK-B has not paid dividends to shareholders, while IEFA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.30%.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRK-B Berkshire Hathaway Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 3.30% | 3.55% | 3.47% | 3.20% | 2.70% | 3.32% | 1.90% | 3.18% | 3.46% | 2.57% | 2.96% | 2.63% |
Frequently Asked Questions
BRK-B and IEFA have a correlation of 0.17, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IEFA has higher volatility (4.54%) compared to BRK-B (3.98%). In terms of maximum drawdown, BRK-B dropped -53.86% vs IEFA's -34.78%.
IEFA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.30 vs -0.09), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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