IEFA vs. FDEGX
IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) and FDEGX (Fidelity Growth Strategies Fund) are both funds - IEFA is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net), while FDEGX is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund managed by Fidelity. Over the past 10 years, IEFA returned 9.37%/yr vs 11.86%/yr for FDEGX. A 0.72 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IEFA charges 0.07%/yr vs 0.63%/yr for FDEGX.
Performance
IEFA vs. FDEGX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IEFA achieves a 7.49% return, which is significantly lower than FDEGX's 8.51% return. Over the past 10 years, IEFA has underperformed FDEGX with an annualized return of 9.37%, while FDEGX has yielded a comparatively higher 11.86% annualized return.
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%
FDEGX
- 1D
- -3.58%
- 1M
- -0.04%
- YTD
- 8.51%
- 6M
- -1.97%
- 1Y
- 1.60%
- 3Y*
- 16.17%
- 5Y*
- 7.93%
- 10Y*
- 11.86%
IEFA vs. FDEGX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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% |
FDEGX Fidelity Growth Strategies Fund | 8.51% | 2.88% | 26.57% | 20.93% | -26.50% | 21.30% | 29.34% | 36.59% | -6.92% | 21.03% |
Correlation
The correlation between IEFA and FDEGX is 0.65, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.65 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.65 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.70 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.70 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 25, 2012 | 0.72 |
The correlation between IEFA and FDEGX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.65 to 0.72 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
IEFA vs. FDEGX — Risk / Return Rank
IEFA
FDEGX
IEFA vs. FDEGX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and Fidelity Growth Strategies Fund (FDEGX). 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 | FDEGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +1.16 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +1.55 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.24 | 1.04 | +0.19 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.71 | 0.15 | +1.57 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 6.52 | 0.37 | +6.14 |
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 | FDEGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.30 | 0.13 | +1.16 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.47 | 0.34 | +0.13 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.54 | 0.54 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.50 | 0.40 | +0.11 |
Drawdowns
IEFA vs. FDEGX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IEFA drawdown since its inception was -34.78%, smaller than the maximum FDEGX drawdown of -85.96%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEFA and FDEGX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| IEFA | FDEGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.78% | -85.96% | +51.18% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.50% | -20.45% | +8.95% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.76% | -26.04% | +12.28% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -30.41% | -36.62% | +6.21% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.78% | -36.62% | +1.84% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.44% | -6.93% | +4.49% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -6.69% | -36.82% | +30.13% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.02% | 8.01% | -4.99% |
Volatility
IEFA vs. FDEGX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is 4.54%, while Fidelity Growth Strategies Fund (FDEGX) has a volatility of 6.56%. This indicates that IEFA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than FDEGX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| IEFA | FDEGX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 4.54% | 6.56% | -2.02% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 12.74% | 19.21% | -6.47% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.22% | 22.26% | -7.04% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.55% | 23.35% | -6.80% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.32% | 22.07% | -4.75% |
IEFA vs. FDEGX - Expense Ratio Comparison
IEFA has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than FDEGX's 0.63% expense ratio.
Dividends
IEFA vs. FDEGX - Dividend Comparison
IEFA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.30%, while FDEGX has not paid dividends to shareholders.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDEGX Fidelity Growth Strategies Fund | 0.00% | 0.00% | 7.89% | 0.05% | 0.00% | 14.15% | 8.37% | 3.65% | 0.75% | 0.05% | 0.59% | 0.13% |
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
IEFA and FDEGX have a correlation of 0.65, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
FDEGX has higher volatility (6.56%) compared to IEFA (4.54%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IEFA dropped -34.78% vs FDEGX's -85.96%.
IEFA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.30 vs 0.13), 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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