Data as of Sep 13, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
EFA vs VDE: how they differ
EFA and VDE hold 0% of their weight in the same names, and VDE returned more over the year.
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and Vanguard Energy Index Fund.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, EFA and VDE hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Only in EFA | Only in VDE |
|---|---|
| ASML HOLDING 3.01% | Exxon Mobil Corp 21.37% |
| HSBC HOLDINGS PLC 1.61% | Chevron Corp 14.53% |
| ROCHE PS PAR AG 1.36% | ConocoPhillips 5.79% |
| SHELL PLC 1.25% | Williams Cos Inc/The 3.65% |
| MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL GROUP 1.15% | SLB Ltd 3.49% |
| NOVARTIS AG 1.15% | Marathon Petroleum Corp 3.29% |
| NESTLE SA 1.12% | Valero Energy Corp 3.19% |
| ASTRAZENECA PLC 1.09% | EOG Resources Inc 3.06% |
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 May 31, 2026 and Sep 10, 2026.
| EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | VDE Vanguard Energy Index Fund | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Core index fund |
| Issuer | iShares | Vanguard |
| What it is | Developed markets ex US | Energy |
| Total return, 1 year | +18.2% | +50.6% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +0.7 pts | +33.1 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.32% | 0.09% |
| Already in the S&P 500 | 0.0% | 81.6% |
| Holdings | 670 | 105 |
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 Sep 10, 2026, 0% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 670 positions, with the top ten at 13.8%.
VDE in plain words
VDE is an index equity fund tracking the Energy. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +50.6% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.09% a year. By its holdings filed for May 31, 2026, 82% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 105 positions, with the top ten at 64.0%.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, EFA or VDE?
- In the year to Sep 13, 2026, with distributions reinvested, EFA returned +18.2% and VDE returned +50.6%, so VDE returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, EFA or VDE?
- EFA charges 0.32% a year and VDE charges 0.09%, so VDE is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- How much do EFA and VDE overlap with the S&P 500?
- By their latest filed holdings, 0% of EFA and 82% of VDE 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 VDE, data as of Sep 13, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/efa-vs-vde Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources