IEFA vs. BUFI
IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) and BUFI (AB International Buffer ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IEFA is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net), while BUFI is a Defined Outcome fund actively managed by AllianceBernstein. IEFA is passively managed, while BUFI is actively managed. Over the past year, IEFA returned 22.00% vs 12.80% for BUFI. With a 0.96 correlation, they move nearly in lockstep. IEFA charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.69%/yr for BUFI.
Performance
IEFA vs. BUFI - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IEFA achieves a 8.85% return, which is significantly higher than BUFI's 4.92% return.
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%
BUFI
- 1D
- -0.31%
- 1M
- 1.83%
- YTD
- 4.92%
- 6M
- 6.32%
- 1Y
- 12.80%
- 3Y*
- —
- 5Y*
- —
- 10Y*
- —
IEFA vs. BUFI - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 8.85% | 32.08% | -3.43% |
BUFI AB International Buffer ETF | 4.92% | 16.50% | -1.31% |
Correlation
The correlation between IEFA and BUFI is 0.97 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.97 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Dec 11, 2024 | 0.96 |
The correlation between IEFA and BUFI has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.96 to 0.97 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IEFA vs. BUFI — Risk / Return Rank
IEFA
BUFI
IEFA vs. BUFI - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and AB International Buffer ETF (BUFI). 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.
| IEFA | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.05 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.11 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.27 | 1.30 | -0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.92 | 2.26 | -0.34 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.34 | 8.98 | -1.65 |
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
| IEFA | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.48 | 1.53 | -0.05 |
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 | 0.51 | 1.50 | -0.99 |
Drawdowns
IEFA vs. BUFI - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IEFA drawdown since its inception was -34.78%, which is greater than BUFI's maximum drawdown of -7.43%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEFA and BUFI.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IEFA | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.78% | -7.43% | -27.35% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.50% | -5.69% | -5.81% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.76% | — | — |
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 | -1.20% | -0.32% | -0.88% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.69% | -0.86% | -5.83% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.01% | 1.43% | +1.58% |
Volatility
IEFA vs. BUFI - Volatility Comparison
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) has a higher volatility of 4.86% compared to AB International Buffer ETF (BUFI) at 2.20%. This indicates that IEFA's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than BUFI based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IEFA | BUFI | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.86% | 2.20% | +2.66% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.42% | 7.05% | +5.37% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 14.96% | 8.43% | +6.53% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.51% | 9.15% | +7.36% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.30% | 9.15% | +8.15% |
IEFA vs. BUFI - Expense Ratio Comparison
IEFA has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than BUFI's 0.69% expense ratio.
Dividends
IEFA vs. BUFI - Dividend Comparison
IEFA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.26%, while BUFI has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BUFI AB International Buffer ETF | 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 | 3.26% | 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
With a correlation of 0.97, IEFA and BUFI move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
IEFA has higher volatility (4.86%) compared to BUFI (2.20%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEFA dropped -34.78% vs BUFI's -7.43%.
On 1-year performance, IEFA leads with 22.00% vs 12.80% for BUFI. On fees, IEFA is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, BUFI has been the lower-risk option at 2.20%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 1-year period, IEFA has performed better with a 22.00% return vs 12.80%. 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 0.69% for BUFI.
IEFA has the higher dividend yield at 3.26%, compared with 0.00% for BUFI.
IEFA is categorized as Foreign Large Cap Equities, while BUFI is Defined Outcome. They also come from different issuers: iShares and AllianceBernstein. Their fees differ too: 0.07% for IEFA and 0.69% for BUFI.
BUFI currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.53 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.
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