IEFA vs. IEMG
Compare and contrast key facts about iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG).
IEFA and IEMG are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. IEFA is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index. It was launched on Oct 18, 2012. IEMG is a passively managed fund by iShares that tracks the performance of the MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Market Index. It was launched on Oct 18, 2012. Both IEFA and IEMG are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: IEFA or IEMG.
Performance
IEFA vs. IEMG - Performance Comparison
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, IEFA achieves a 4.06% return, which is significantly lower than IEMG's 8.35% return. Over the past 10 years, IEFA has outperformed IEMG with an annualized return of 5.18%, while IEMG has yielded a comparatively lower 3.32% annualized return.
IEFA
4.06%
-4.64%
-2.46%
10.80%
5.43%
5.18%
IEMG
8.35%
-4.77%
1.02%
12.58%
3.88%
3.32%
Key characteristics
| IEFA | IEMG | |
|---|---|---|
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.81 | 0.79 |
| Sortino Ratio | 1.19 | 1.20 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.14 | 1.15 |
| Calmar Ratio | 1.19 | 0.47 |
| Martin Ratio | 3.70 | 3.79 |
| Ulcer Index | 2.81% | 3.14% |
| Daily Std Dev | 12.80% | 15.00% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.78% | -38.72% |
| Current Drawdown | -8.65% | -14.18% |
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IEFA vs. IEMG - Expense Ratio Comparison
IEFA has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than IEMG's 0.14% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Correlation
The correlation between IEFA and IEMG is 0.79, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
IEFA vs. IEMG - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG). 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.
Dividends
IEFA vs. IEMG - Dividend Comparison
IEFA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.17%, more than IEMG's 2.74% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 3.17% | 3.20% | 2.70% | 3.32% | 1.90% | 3.18% | 3.46% | 2.57% | 2.96% | 2.63% | 3.10% | 2.16% |
IEMG iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | 2.74% | 2.89% | 2.70% | 3.06% | 1.87% | 3.15% | 2.76% | 2.34% | 2.28% | 2.52% | 2.30% | 1.76% |
Drawdowns
IEFA vs. IEMG - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum IEFA drawdown since its inception was -34.78%, smaller than the maximum IEMG drawdown of -38.72%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IEFA and IEMG. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
IEFA vs. IEMG - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) is 3.81%, while iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (IEMG) has a volatility of 4.61%. This indicates that IEFA experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than IEMG based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.