Data as of Sep 12, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
EFA vs VBR: how they differ
EFA and VBR hold 0% of their weight in the same names, and EFA returned more over the year.
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, EFA and VBR hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Only in EFA | Only in VBR |
|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V. 2.60% | Jabil Inc 0.87% |
| HSBC HOLDINGS PLC 1.47% | NRG Energy Inc 0.66% |
| ASTRAZENECA PLC 1.36% | Tapestry Inc 0.64% |
| Novartis AG 1.30% | Atmos Energy Corp 0.62% |
| Nestle S.A. 1.21% | Williams-Sonoma Inc 0.59% |
| SHELL PLC 1.20% | Moderna Inc 0.54% |
| Siemens Aktiengesellschaft 1.05% | Smurfit Westrock PLC 0.52% |
| COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA 0.98% | F5 Inc 0.50% |
Weight overlap is an ETFIQ calculation: for every security both funds hold, the smaller of the two weights, summed. Above 50%, holding both is close to holding one of them twice. Holdings dated Apr 30, 2026 and Jun 30, 2026.
| EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | VBR Vanguard Small-Cap Value Index Fund | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Core index fund |
| Issuer | iShares | Vanguard |
| What it is | Developed markets ex US | Small-Cap Value |
| Total return, 1 year | +18.2% | +16.3% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +0.7 pts | −1.2 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.32% | 0.05% |
| Already in the S&P 500 | 0.0% | 30.5% |
| Holdings | 705 | 840 |
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%.
VBR in plain words
VBR is an index equity fund tracking the Small-Cap Value. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +16.3% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.05% a year. By its holdings filed for Jun 30, 2026, 30% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 840 positions, with the top ten at 5.9%. It sat 3.8% below its high of Aug 14, 2026 on Sep 11, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, EFA or VBR?
- In the year to Sep 12, 2026, with distributions reinvested, EFA returned +18.2% and VBR returned +16.3%, so EFA returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, EFA or VBR?
- EFA charges 0.32% a year and VBR charges 0.05%, so VBR is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- How much do EFA and VBR overlap with the S&P 500?
- By their latest filed holdings, 0% of EFA and 30% of VBR by weight is stocks the S&P 500 already holds. Between the two funds, 0% of their books are the same securities at the same weight.
Other comparisons
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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 VBR, data as of Sep 12, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/EFA-VBR Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources