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IWR vs. IEFA
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

IWR vs. IEFA

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

IWR (iShares Russell Midcap ETF) and IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - IWR is a Mid Cap Growth Equities fund tracking the Russell Midcap Index, while IEFA is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, IWR returned 11.41%/yr vs 9.37%/yr for IEFA. A 0.78 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. IWR charges 0.19%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for IEFA.

Performance

IWR vs. IEFA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, IWR achieves a 10.71% return, which is significantly higher than IEFA's 7.49% return. Over the past 10 years, IWR has outperformed IEFA with an annualized return of 11.41%, while IEFA has yielded a comparatively lower 9.37% annualized return.

IWR

1D
0.08%
1M
1.05%
YTD
10.71%
6M
10.50%
1Y
19.23%
3Y*
16.25%
5Y*
7.68%
10Y*
11.41%

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%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

IWR vs. IEFA - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
IWR
iShares Russell Midcap ETF		10.71%10.37%15.21%17.05%-17.48%22.44%16.93%30.23%-9.10%18.25%
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%

Correlation

The correlation between IWR and IEFA is 0.72, 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

0.72

Correlation (3Y)
Calculated over the trailing 3-year period

0.73

Correlation (5Y)
Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.77

Correlation (10Y)
Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.77

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 25, 2012

0.78

The correlation between IWR and IEFA has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.72 to 0.78 - a consistent structural relationship.

IWR vs. IEFA - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
IWR
IEFA

Industrials

18.4%
20.1%

Technology

17.2%
10.8%

Financial Services

12.5%
22.5%

Consumer Cyclical

11.2%
8.0%

Healthcare

8.7%
9.5%

Energy

7.2%
3.8%

Real Estate

7.0%
3.0%

Utilities

6.1%
3.6%

Basic Materials

4.3%
7.0%

Consumer Defensive

4.1%
6.6%

Communication Services

3.4%
4.4%

Industrials

IWR
18.4%
IEFA
20.1%

Technology

IWR
17.2%
IEFA
10.8%

Financial Services

IWR
12.5%
IEFA
22.5%

Consumer Cyclical

IWR
11.2%
IEFA
8.0%

Healthcare

IWR
8.7%
IEFA
9.5%

Energy

IWR
7.2%
IEFA
3.8%

Real Estate

IWR
7.0%
IEFA
3.0%

Utilities

IWR
6.1%
IEFA
3.6%

Basic Materials

IWR
4.3%
IEFA
7.0%

Consumer Defensive

IWR
4.1%
IEFA
6.6%

Communication Services

IWR
3.4%
IEFA
4.4%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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

iShares Russell Midcap ETF

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF

Often compared with IWR:
IWR vs. VOIWR vs. IWDIWR vs. SPMDIWR vs. IWNIWR vs. SCHMIWR vs. VXFIWR vs. REGL
Often compared with IEFA:
IEFA vs. VEAIEFA vs. VXUSIEFA vs. EFAIEFA vs. FSPSXIEFA vs. IEMGIEFA vs. XEF.TOIEFA vs. IXUS

Return for Risk

IWR vs. IEFA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
IWR
IWR Risk / Return Rank: 4949
Overall Rank
IWR Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4545
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IWR Sortino Ratio Rank: 4646
Sortino Ratio Rank
IWR Omega Ratio Rank: 4343
Omega Ratio Rank
IWR Calmar Ratio Rank: 5353
Calmar Ratio Rank
IWR Martin Ratio Rank: 5757
Martin Ratio Rank
IEFA
IEFA Risk / Return Rank: 4040
Overall Rank
IEFA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 4141
Sharpe Ratio Rank
IEFA Sortino Ratio Rank: 4040
Sortino Ratio Rank
IEFA Omega Ratio Rank: 4040
Omega Ratio Rank
IEFA Calmar Ratio Rank: 3838
Calmar Ratio Rank
IEFA Martin Ratio Rank: 4343
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

IWR vs. IEFA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR) 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.

IWRIEFADifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.43
1.30

+0.13

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.07
1.88

+0.19

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.25

1.24

+0.01

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.37

1.71

+0.65

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

9.09

6.52

+2.58

Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

IWR vs. IEFA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current IWR Sharpe Ratio is 1.43, which is comparable to the IEFA Sharpe Ratio of 1.30. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of IWR and IEFA, 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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Sharpe Ratios by Period

IWRIEFADifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

1.43

1.30

+0.13

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.42

0.47

-0.05

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.59

0.54

+0.05

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.49

0.50

-0.01

Drawdowns

IWR vs. IEFA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum IWR drawdown since its inception was -58.78%, which is greater than IEFA's maximum drawdown of -34.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for IWR and IEFA.

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Drawdown Indicators

IWRIEFADifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-58.78%

-34.78%

-24.00%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.17%

-11.50%

+3.33%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-21.09%

-13.76%

-7.33%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-26.18%

-30.41%

+4.23%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-40.59%

-34.78%

-5.81%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.04%

-2.44%

+0.40%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-7.80%

-6.69%

-1.11%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

2.12%

3.02%

-0.90%

Volatility

IWR vs. IEFA - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares Russell Midcap ETF (IWR) is 3.59%, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) has a volatility of 4.54%. This indicates that IWR 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.

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Volatility by Period

IWRIEFADifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.59%

4.54%

-0.95%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

10.06%

12.74%

-2.68%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

13.54%

15.22%

-1.68%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

18.25%

16.55%

+1.70%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

19.38%

17.32%

+2.06%

IWR vs. IEFA - Expense Ratio Comparison

IWR has a 0.19% 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

IWR vs. IEFA - Dividend Comparison

IWR's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.17%, less than IEFA's 3.30% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
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%
IWR
iShares Russell Midcap ETF		1.17%1.29%1.27%1.43%1.59%1.04%1.28%1.43%1.98%1.52%1.72%1.59%

Frequently Asked Questions

IWR and IEFA have a correlation of 0.72, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

IEFA has higher volatility (4.54%) compared to IWR (3.59%). In terms of maximum drawdown, IWR dropped -58.78% vs IEFA's -34.78%.

On 10-year performance, IWR leads with 11.41% vs 9.37% for IEFA. On fees, IEFA is cheaper at 0.07% per year. On volatility, IWR has been the lower-risk option at 3.59%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, IWR has performed better with a 11.41% return vs 9.37%. 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 0.19% for IWR.

IEFA has the higher dividend yield at 3.30%, compared with 1.17% for IWR.

IWR is categorized as Mid Cap Growth Equities, while IEFA is Foreign Large Cap Equities. IWR tracks Russell Midcap Index, while IEFA tracks MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net). Their fees differ too: 0.19% for IWR and 0.07% for IEFA.

IWR currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.43 vs 1.30), 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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