Data as of Oct 28, 2026.
EFA vs XLC: Differences, Returns & Fees
Over the year to Oct 28, 2026, EFA returned +12.1% to XLC's −10.4%; 0% of their weight is in the same names.
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Net assets on Oct 27, 2026: $76.8bn for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and $22.1bn for State Street Communication Services Select Sector SPDR ETF.
Pair scorecard
XLC costs 0.24 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 22.5 points; EFA is 3.5 times larger.
| Measure | EFA | XLC |
|---|---|---|
| Return | ||
| Total return, 1 year | +12.1% | −10.4% |
| Drawdown | ||
| Below its high | 4.7%, high on Aug 25, 2026 | 13.3%, high on Jan 30, 2026 |
| Benchmark | ||
| What it tracks | MSCI EAFE Index | Communication Services Select Sector Index |
| Cost and size | ||
| Expense ratio | 0.32% | 0.08% |
| Net assets, as of Oct 27, 2026 | $76.8bn | $22.1bn |
| Holdings | ||
| Holdings in common | 0% | |
| Top ten holdings, share of the fund | 14.3% | 75.3% |
Holdings in common uses holdings dated Oct 27, 2026. Method
What they share
By the books each fund has filed, EFA and XLC 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
EFA and XLC on the fields both publish, as of Oct 28, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
EFA
EFA tracks an index of Developed markets ex US. Over the year to Oct 28, 2026 it returned +12.1% with distributions reinvested, against +14.3% for its benchmark, the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.32% 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 665 positions, with the top ten at 14.3%. It sat 4.7% below its high of Aug 25, 2026 on Oct 28, 2026.
XLC
XLC tracks an index of Communication services. Over the year to Oct 28, 2026 it returned −10.4% with distributions reinvested. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.08% a year. By its holdings published by its issuer for Oct 27, 2026, 100% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 23 positions, with the top ten at 75.3%. It sat 13.3% below its high of Jan 30, 2026 on Oct 28, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, EFA or XLC?
- In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, EFA returned +12.1% and XLC −10.4%.
- Which is cheaper, EFA or XLC?
- XLC is cheaper, by 0.24 percentage points a year. That is about $24 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, EFA against XLC, data as of Oct 28, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/efa-vs-xlc
ETFIQ. (Oct 28, 2026). EFA against XLC. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/compare/any/efa-vs-xlc
[EFA against XLC (ETFIQ, Oct 28, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/compare/any/efa-vs-xlc)
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