Data as of Oct 28, 2026.
EEM vs IEFA: Differences, Returns & Fees
Over the year to Oct 28, 2026, EEM returned +16.3% to IEFA's +12.3%; 0% of their weight is in the same names.
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Net assets: $29.1bn on Oct 27, 2026 for iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF, and $190.4bn on Oct 28, 2026 for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF.
Pair scorecard
IEFA costs 0.65 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 4.0 points; IEFA is 6.5 times larger.
| Measure | EEM | IEFA |
|---|---|---|
| Return | ||
| Total return, 1 year | +16.3% | +12.3% |
| Drawdown | ||
| Below its high | 10.8%, high on Jun 22, 2026 | 4.7%, high on Aug 25, 2026 |
| Benchmark | ||
| What it tracks | MSCI Emerging Markets Index | MSCI EAFE IMI Index |
| Cost and size | ||
| Expense ratio | 0.72% | 0.07% |
| Net assets, as of Oct 27, 2026 | $29.1bn | $190.1bn |
| Holdings | ||
| Holdings in common | 0% | |
| Top ten holdings, share of the fund | 37.2% | 12.3% |
Holdings in common uses holdings dated Oct 27, 2026. Method
What they share
By the books each fund has filed, EEM and IEFA hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight. Holdings dated Oct 27, 2026.
half
0% in common
Only in one fund ↓
Side by side
EEM and IEFA on the fields both publish, as of Oct 28, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
EEM
EEM tracks an index of Emerging markets. Over the year to Oct 28, 2026 it returned +16.3% with distributions reinvested. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.72% a year. By its holdings published by its issuer for Oct 27, 2026, 0% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 1,186 positions, with the top ten at 37.2%. It sat 10.8% below its high of Jun 22, 2026 on Oct 28, 2026.
IEFA
IEFA tracks the MSCI EAFE. Over the year to Oct 28, 2026 it returned +12.3% with distributions reinvested, against +14.3% for its benchmark, the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.07% a year. By its holdings published by its issuer for Oct 27, 2026, 0% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 2,629 positions, with the top ten at 12.3%. It sat 4.7% below its high of Aug 25, 2026 on Oct 28, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, EEM or IEFA?
- In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, EEM returned +16.3% and IEFA +12.3%.
- Which is cheaper, EEM or IEFA?
- IEFA is cheaper, by 0.65 percentage points a year. That is about $65 on $10,000 held for a year. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Links are sources, not endorsements. A comparison is not a recommendation.
How this is computed
Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for each security both funds hold.
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ETFIQ, EEM against IEFA, data as of Oct 28, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/eem-vs-iefa
ETFIQ. (Oct 28, 2026). EEM against IEFA. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/compare/any/eem-vs-iefa
[EEM against IEFA (ETFIQ, Oct 28, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/compare/any/eem-vs-iefa)
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