Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
EFA vs IMAR: how they differ
EFA and IMAR are measured over different days, and EFA charges 0.32% against 0.85%.
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and Innovator Intl Developed Power Buffer ETF - Mar.
| EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | IMAR Innovator Intl Developed Power Buffer ETF - Mar | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Buffer ETF |
| Issuer | iShares | Innovator |
| What it is | Developed markets ex US | Defined outcome, 15% on EFA |
| Total return, 1 year | +18.2% | not published |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | not published |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +0.7 pts | not available |
| Expense ratio | 0.32% | 0.85% |
| Holdings | 705 | not filed |
EFA in plain words
EFA is an index equity fund tracking the Developed markets ex US. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +18.2% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.32% a year. By its holdings filed for Apr 30, 2026, 0% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 705 positions, with the top ten at 13.4%.
IMAR in plain words
From its price on Sep 12, 2026, the fund can gain about 11.0% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 2.5% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's figure. In index terms, EFA can fall 1.2% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's EFA level. 170 days remained on Sep 12, 2026. On Feb 28, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.
Questions people ask
- Which is cheaper, EFA or IMAR?
- EFA charges 0.32% a year and IMAR charges 0.85%, so EFA is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- Are EFA and IMAR the same kind of fund?
- No. EFA is an index ETF and IMAR is a buffer ETF, so they are built for different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and what each actually holds.
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Where these figures came from
ETFIQ links to the documents behind every figure. It is not affiliated with any issuer, and a link is not an endorsement.
Cite this page. ETFIQ, EFA against IMAR, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/EFA-IMAR Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources