GSWO vs. IEFA
GSWO (Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF) and IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - GSWO is a Global Equities fund tracking the Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity Index - Benchmark TR Net, while IEFA is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net). Both are passively managed. Over the past 3 years, GSWO returned 18.70%/yr vs 16.72%/yr for IEFA. Their correlation of 0.83 suggests significant overlap in exposure. GSWO charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for IEFA.
Performance
GSWO vs. IEFA - Performance Comparison
Loading charts...
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, GSWO achieves a 11.00% return, which is significantly higher than IEFA's 8.85% return.
GSWO
- 1D
- -0.71%
- 1M
- 4.81%
- YTD
- 11.00%
- 6M
- 11.56%
- 1Y
- 20.17%
- 3Y*
- 18.70%
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IEFA
- 1D
- -0.78%
- 1M
- 3.43%
- YTD
- 8.85%
- 6M
- 11.45%
- 1Y
- 22.00%
- 3Y*
- 16.72%
- 5Y*
- 8.07%
- 10Y*
- 9.22%
GSWO vs. IEFA - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GSWO Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF | 11.00% | 18.97% | 15.29% | 16.28% | -6.15% |
IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 8.85% | 32.08% | 3.26% | 17.95% | -8.43% |
Correlation
The correlation between GSWO and IEFA is 0.82, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.83 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.81 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 18, 2022 | 0.83 |
The correlation between GSWO and IEFA has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.81 to 0.83 - a consistent structural relationship.
Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs
Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.
Return for Risk
GSWO vs. IEFA — Risk / Return Rank
GSWO
IEFA
GSWO vs. IEFA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF (GSWO) 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.
| GSWO | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.40 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.63 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.35 | 1.27 | +0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.27 | 1.92 | +0.35 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.87 | 7.34 | +3.53 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
Loading charts...
Sharpe Ratios by Period
| GSWO | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.88 | 1.48 | +0.40 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | — | 0.49 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | — | 0.53 | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.99 | 0.51 | +0.48 |
Drawdowns
GSWO vs. IEFA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum GSWO drawdown since its inception was -17.77%, smaller than the maximum IEFA drawdown of -34.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for GSWO and IEFA.
Loading charts...
Drawdown Indicators
| GSWO | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -17.77% | -34.78% | +17.01% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -8.93% | -11.50% | +2.57% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -9.97% | -13.76% | +3.79% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | — | -30.41% | — |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | — | -34.78% | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -0.71% | -1.20% | +0.49% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -3.25% | -6.69% | +3.44% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 1.86% | 3.01% | -1.15% |
Volatility
GSWO vs. IEFA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF (GSWO) is 3.22%, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) has a volatility of 4.86%. This indicates that GSWO 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.
Loading charts...
Volatility by Period
| GSWO | IEFA | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 3.22% | 4.86% | -1.64% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 9.02% | 12.42% | -3.40% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 10.75% | 14.96% | -4.21% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 12.96% | 16.51% | -3.55% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 12.96% | 17.30% | -4.34% |
GSWO vs. IEFA - Expense Ratio Comparison
GSWO has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than IEFA's 0.07% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
GSWO vs. IEFA - Dividend Comparison
GSWO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.61%, less than IEFA's 3.26% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GSWO Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Equity ETF | 1.61% | 1.74% | 1.75% | 2.06% | 1.73% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 3.26% | 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
GSWO and IEFA have a correlation of 0.82, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
IEFA has higher volatility (4.86%) compared to GSWO (3.22%). In terms of maximum drawdown, GSWO dropped -17.77% vs IEFA's -34.78%.
On 3-year performance, GSWO leads with 18.70% vs 16.72% for IEFA. On fees, IEFA is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, GSWO has been the lower-risk option at 3.22%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 3-year period, GSWO has performed better with a 18.70% return vs 16.72%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
IEFA is cheaper with a 0.07% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for GSWO.
IEFA has the higher dividend yield at 3.26%, compared with 1.61% for GSWO.
GSWO is categorized as Global Equities, while IEFA is Foreign Large Cap Equities. GSWO tracks Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta World Low Vol Plus Equity Index - Benchmark TR Net, while IEFA tracks MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net). They also come from different issuers: Goldman Sachs and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for GSWO and 0.07% for IEFA.
GSWO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.88 vs 1.48), 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.
Find the right allocation for GSWO and IEFA
Add both to a portfolio and optimize allocations for your target — whether that's maximizing returns, minimizing drawdowns, or balancing risk across holdings.
Open Portfolio Optimizer