VXUS vs. IEFA
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA).
VXUS and IEFA are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VXUS is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the MSCI All Country World ex USA Investable Market Index. It was launched on Jan 26, 2011. 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. Both VXUS and IEFA 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: VXUS or IEFA.
Correlation
The correlation between VXUS and IEFA is 0.80, 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.
Performance
VXUS vs. IEFA - Performance Comparison
Key characteristics
VXUS:
0.60
IEFA:
0.63
VXUS:
0.94
IEFA:
1.02
VXUS:
1.13
IEFA:
1.14
VXUS:
0.73
IEFA:
0.81
VXUS:
2.30
IEFA:
2.38
VXUS:
4.29%
IEFA:
4.70%
VXUS:
16.92%
IEFA:
17.57%
VXUS:
-35.97%
IEFA:
-34.79%
VXUS:
-1.01%
IEFA:
-0.75%
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VXUS achieves a 9.97% return, which is significantly lower than IEFA's 13.09% return. Over the past 10 years, VXUS has underperformed IEFA with an annualized return of 5.12%, while IEFA has yielded a comparatively higher 5.69% annualized return.
VXUS
9.97%
16.33%
4.45%
10.10%
10.68%
5.12%
IEFA
13.09%
17.18%
7.89%
11.05%
11.58%
5.69%
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VXUS vs. IEFA - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VXUS and IEFA have an expense ratio of 0.07%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
VXUS vs. IEFA — Risk-Adjusted Performance Rank
VXUS
IEFA
VXUS vs. IEFA - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) 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.
Dividends
VXUS vs. IEFA - Dividend Comparison
VXUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.02%, less than IEFA's 3.07% yield.
| TTM | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VXUS Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | 3.02% | 3.37% | 3.24% | 3.09% | 3.10% | 2.14% | 3.06% | 3.18% | 2.73% | 2.93% | 2.83% | 3.40% |
IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 3.07% | 3.47% | 3.20% | 2.70% | 3.32% | 1.90% | 3.18% | 3.46% | 2.57% | 2.96% | 2.63% | 3.10% |
Drawdowns
VXUS vs. IEFA - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VXUS drawdown since its inception was -35.97%, roughly equal to the maximum IEFA drawdown of -34.79%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VXUS and IEFA. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
VXUS vs. IEFA - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is 7.98%, while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) has a volatility of 8.51%. This indicates that VXUS 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.