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IJH vs. EFA
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

IJH vs. EFA

Last updated Aug 2, 2026
Documentation

IJH (iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF) and EFA (iShares MSCI EAFE ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IJH is a Mid Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the S&P MidCap 400 Index, while EFA is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE Index (Net). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IJH returned 11.03%/yr vs 9.47%/yr for EFA. Their 0.76 correlation means they have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently. IJH charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.32%/yr for EFA.

Performance

IJH vs. EFA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH) and iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IJH achieves a 14.60% return, which is significantly higher than EFA's 11.69% return. Over the past 10 years, IJH has outperformed EFA with an annualized return of 11.03%, while EFA has yielded a comparatively lower 9.47% annualized return.

IJH

1D
-0.11%
1M
-1.08%
6M
10.14%
YTD
14.60%
1Y
22.81%
3Y*
13.01%
5Y*
8.44%
10Y*
11.03%
ALL TIME*
9.85%

EFA

1D
-0.62%
1M
1.16%
6M
6.46%
YTD
11.69%
1Y
25.09%
3Y*
16.41%
5Y*
9.23%
10Y*
9.47%
ALL TIME*
6.58%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

PositionAvg. Volume Value (2W)Avg. Volume Value (1M)Avg. Volume Value (3M)

EFA

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF
$1.24B$1.12B$1.39B

IJH

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF
$461.96M$459.67M$538.23M

IJH vs. EFA - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
IJH
iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF		14.60%7.42%13.92%16.40%-13.11%24.72%13.60%26.10%-11.19%16.26%
EFA
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF		11.69%31.55%3.49%18.36%-14.39%11.45%7.60%22.04%-13.82%25.07%

Correlation

The correlation between IJH and EFA is 0.71, which is moderate. They have sometimes moved together and sometimes differently, sharing some price drivers without tracking each other closely.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.

0.71

Correlation (3Y)
Balances recent behavior with more history.

0.71

Correlation (5Y)
Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.

0.75

Correlation (10Y)
Provides a long-term view across more market conditions.

0.74

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Aug 17, 2001

0.76

The correlation between IJH and EFA has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.71 to 0.76 - a consistent structural relationship.

IJH vs. EFA - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
IJH
EFA

Industrials

25.2%
18.9%

Technology

17.5%
11.7%

Financial Services

13.9%
26.4%

Consumer Cyclical

10.5%
7.0%

Healthcare

8.9%
10.4%

Real Estate

7.2%
1.7%

Basic Materials

4.8%
5.9%

Energy

4.6%
3.7%

Consumer Defensive

3.2%
6.6%

Utilities

2.8%
3.6%

Communication Services

1.5%
3.4%

Industrials

IJH
25.2%
EFA
18.9%

Technology

IJH
17.5%
EFA
11.7%

Financial Services

IJH
13.9%
EFA
26.4%

Consumer Cyclical

IJH
10.5%
EFA
7.0%

Healthcare

IJH
8.9%
EFA
10.4%

Real Estate

IJH
7.2%
EFA
1.7%

Basic Materials

IJH
4.8%
EFA
5.9%

Energy

IJH
4.6%
EFA
3.7%

Consumer Defensive

IJH
3.2%
EFA
6.6%

Utilities

IJH
2.8%
EFA
3.6%

Communication Services

IJH
1.5%
EFA
3.4%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF

Often compared with IJH:
IJH vs. VOIJH vs. IJRIJH vs. MDYIJH vs. SCHMIJH vs. IJKIJH vs. IJJIJH vs. IVOO
Often compared with EFA:
EFA vs. IEFAEFA vs. VEAEFA vs. EFGEFA vs. XEF.TOEFA vs. EFAVEFA vs. EFOEFA vs. IEUR

Return for Risk

IJH vs. EFA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
IJH
IJH Risk / Return Rank: 6262
Overall Rank
IJH Sharpe Ratio Rank: 5757
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IJH Sortino Ratio Rank: 5959
Sortino Ratio Rank
IJH Omega Ratio Rank: 5555
Omega Ratio Rank
IJH Calmar Ratio Rank: 6969
Calmar Ratio Rank
IJH Martin Ratio Rank: 7171
Martin Ratio Rank
EFA
EFA Risk / Return Rank: 6868
Overall Rank
EFA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7070
Sharpe Ratio Rank
EFA Sortino Ratio Rank: 7070
Sortino Ratio Rank
EFA Omega Ratio Rank: 6868
Omega Ratio Rank
EFA Calmar Ratio Rank: 6363
Calmar Ratio Rank
EFA Martin Ratio Rank: 6868
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

IJH vs. EFA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH) and iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

IJHEFADifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.34
1.58

-0.24

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.00
2.26

-0.26

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.24

1.28

-0.04

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.39

2.18

+0.21

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

8.69

8.23

+0.46

IJH vs. EFA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IJH Sharpe Ratio is 1.34, which is comparable to the EFA Sharpe Ratio of 1.58. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IJH and EFA, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

IJH vs. EFA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IJH drawdown since its inception was -55.07%, smaller than the maximum EFA drawdown of -61.04%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IJH and EFA.

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Drawdown Indicators

IJHEFADifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-55.07%

-61.04%

+5.97%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.83%

-11.42%

+2.59%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-24.10%

-14.05%

-10.05%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-24.10%

-29.53%

+5.43%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-42.18%

-34.19%

-7.99%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.39%

-0.62%

-1.77%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-7.53%

-11.86%

+4.33%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.42%

3.02%

-0.60%

Volatility

IJH vs. EFA - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF (IJH) is 3.46%, while iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) has a volatility of 4.69%. This indicates that IJH experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than EFA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

IJHEFADifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.46%

4.69%

-1.23%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

11.63%

13.71%

-2.08%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

15.76%

15.79%

-0.03%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

19.67%

16.62%

+3.05%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

21.13%

17.00%

+4.13%

IJH vs. EFA - Expense Ratio Comparison

IJH has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than EFA's 0.32% expense ratio.

Dividends

IJH vs. EFA - Dividend Comparison

IJH's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.18%, less than EFA's 3.19% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
EFA
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF		3.19%3.38%3.24%2.98%2.69%3.33%2.13%3.10%3.39%2.57%3.07%2.76%
IJH
iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF		1.18%1.36%1.33%1.46%1.68%1.18%1.28%1.63%1.72%1.19%1.60%1.56%

Frequently Asked Questions

IJH and EFA have a correlation of 0.71, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

EFA has higher volatility (4.69%) compared to IJH (3.46%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IJH dropped -55.07% vs EFA's -61.04%.

On 10-year performance, IJH leads with 11.03% vs 9.47% for EFA. On fees, IJH is cheaper at 0.05% per year. On volatility, IJH has been the lower-risk option at 3.46%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, IJH has performed better with a 11.03% return vs 9.47%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

IJH is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.32% for EFA.

EFA has the higher dividend yield at 3.19%, compared with 1.18% for IJH.

IJH is categorized as Mid Cap Blend Equities, while EFA is Foreign Large Cap Equities. IJH tracks S&P MidCap 400 Index, while EFA tracks MSCI EAFE Index (Net). Their fees differ too: 0.05% for IJH and 0.32% for EFA.

EFA currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.58 vs 1.34), 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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