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SCHB vs. IEFA
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

SCHB vs. IEFA

Last updated Jun 9, 2026

SCHB (Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF) and IEFA (iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - SCHB is a Large Cap Blend Equities fund tracking the Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market 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, SCHB returned 14.83%/yr vs 9.37%/yr for IEFA. A 0.80 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. SCHB charges 0.03%/yr vs 0.07%/yr for IEFA.

Performance

SCHB vs. IEFA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB) 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, SCHB achieves a 9.14% return, which is significantly higher than IEFA's 7.49% return. Over the past 10 years, SCHB has outperformed IEFA with an annualized return of 14.83%, while IEFA has yielded a comparatively lower 9.37% annualized return.

SCHB

1D
0.35%
1M
0.46%
YTD
9.14%
6M
9.03%
1Y
24.95%
3Y*
21.09%
5Y*
12.31%
10Y*
14.83%

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)

SCHB vs. IEFA - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)202520242023202220212020201920182017
SCHB
Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF		9.14%16.94%23.93%26.16%-19.46%25.84%20.76%30.79%-5.43%21.20%
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 SCHB and IEFA is 0.78, 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

0.78

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

0.78

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

0.80

The correlation between SCHB and IEFA has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.73 to 0.80 - a consistent structural relationship.

SCHB vs. IEFA - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
SCHB
IEFA

Technology

34.4%
10.8%

Financial Services

12.2%
22.5%

Consumer Cyclical

10.1%
8.0%

Communication Services

10.1%
4.4%

Industrials

9.4%
20.1%

Healthcare

8.9%
9.5%

Consumer Defensive

4.6%
6.6%

Energy

3.7%
3.8%

Real Estate

2.4%
3.0%

Utilities

2.3%
3.6%

Basic Materials

2.0%
7.0%

Technology

SCHB
34.4%
IEFA
10.8%

Financial Services

SCHB
12.2%
IEFA
22.5%

Consumer Cyclical

SCHB
10.1%
IEFA
8.0%

Communication Services

SCHB
10.1%
IEFA
4.4%

Industrials

SCHB
9.4%
IEFA
20.1%

Healthcare

SCHB
8.9%
IEFA
9.5%

Consumer Defensive

SCHB
4.6%
IEFA
6.6%

Energy

SCHB
3.7%
IEFA
3.8%

Real Estate

SCHB
2.4%
IEFA
3.0%

Utilities

SCHB
2.3%
IEFA
3.6%

Basic Materials

SCHB
2.0%
IEFA
7.0%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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

Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF

Often compared with SCHB:
SCHB vs. VTISCHB vs. SCHGSCHB vs. SCHXSCHB vs. VOOSCHB vs. SCHDSCHB vs. SWTSXSCHB vs. SPY
Often compared with IEFA:
IEFA vs. VEAIEFA vs. VXUSIEFA vs. EFAIEFA vs. FSPSXIEFA vs. IEMGIEFA vs. XEF.TOIEFA vs. IXUS

Return for Risk

SCHB vs. IEFA — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.
SCHB
SCHB Risk / Return Rank: 6868
Overall Rank
SCHB Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6868
Sharpe Ratio Rank
SCHB Sortino Ratio Rank: 6666
Sortino Ratio Rank
SCHB Omega Ratio Rank: 6868
Omega Ratio Rank
SCHB Calmar Ratio Rank: 6262
Calmar Ratio Rank
SCHB Martin Ratio Rank: 7575
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.

SCHB vs. IEFA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB) 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.

SCHBIEFADifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
2.02
1.30

+0.73

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.73
1.88

+0.85

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.37

1.24

+0.13

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.81

1.71

+1.10

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

12.80

6.52

+6.28

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

SCHB vs. IEFA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current SCHB Sharpe Ratio is 2.02, which is higher than the IEFA Sharpe Ratio of 1.30. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of SCHB 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

SCHBIEFADifference

Sharpe Ratio (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

2.02

1.30

+0.73

Sharpe Ratio (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period

0.72

0.47

+0.24

Sharpe Ratio (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period

0.81

0.54

+0.27

Sharpe Ratio (All Time)

Calculated using the full available price history

0.82

0.50

+0.32

Drawdowns

SCHB vs. IEFA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum SCHB drawdown since its inception was -35.27%, roughly equal to the maximum IEFA drawdown of -34.78%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SCHB and IEFA.

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Drawdown Indicators

SCHBIEFADifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-35.27%

-34.78%

-0.49%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-8.91%

-11.50%

+2.59%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-19.34%

-13.76%

-5.58%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-25.41%

-30.41%

+5.00%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-35.27%

-34.78%

-0.49%

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.63%

-2.44%

-0.19%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-4.11%

-6.69%

+2.58%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

1.95%

3.02%

-1.07%

Volatility

SCHB vs. IEFA - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF (SCHB) is 3.93%, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) has a volatility of 4.54%. This indicates that SCHB 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

SCHBIEFADifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

3.93%

4.54%

-0.61%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

9.57%

12.74%

-3.17%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

12.41%

15.22%

-2.81%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

17.28%

16.55%

+0.73%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

18.34%

17.32%

+1.02%

SCHB vs. IEFA - Expense Ratio Comparison

SCHB has a 0.03% expense ratio, which is lower than IEFA's 0.07% 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%.

Dividends

SCHB vs. IEFA - Dividend Comparison

SCHB's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 1.04%, 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%
SCHB
Schwab U.S. Broad Market ETF		1.04%1.11%1.24%1.40%1.61%1.21%1.63%1.80%2.00%1.65%1.86%2.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

SCHB and IEFA have a correlation of 0.78, 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 SCHB (3.93%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SCHB dropped -35.27% vs IEFA's -34.78%.

On 10-year performance, SCHB leads with 14.83% vs 9.37% for IEFA. On fees, SCHB is cheaper at 0.03% per year. On volatility, SCHB has been the lower-risk option at 3.93%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Over the 10-year period, SCHB has performed better with a 14.83% return vs 9.37%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.

SCHB is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.07% for IEFA.

IEFA has the higher dividend yield at 3.30%, compared with 1.04% for SCHB.

SCHB is categorized as Large Cap Blend Equities, while IEFA is Foreign Large Cap Equities. SCHB tracks Dow Jones U.S. Broad Stock Market Index, while IEFA tracks MSCI EAFE IMI Index (Net). They also come from different issuers: Charles Schwab and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.03% for SCHB and 0.07% for IEFA.

SCHB currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (2.02 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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