Data as of Oct 28, 2026.
EFA vs YSEP: Differences, Returns & Fees
Over the year to Oct 28, 2026, EFA returned +12.1% to YSEP's +10.1%, and EFA charges 0.32% to YSEP's 0.90%.
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Net assets on Oct 27, 2026: $76.8bn for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and $135m for FT Vest International Equity Moderate Buffer ETF - September.
Pair scorecard
EFA costs 0.58 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 2.0 points; EFA is far larger, $76.8bn against $135m.
| Measure | EFA | YSEP |
|---|---|---|
| Return | ||
| Total return, 1 year | +12.1% | +10.1% |
| Drawdown | ||
| Below its high | 4.7%, high on Aug 25, 2026 | |
| Index fall to the buffer | 0.0% | |
| Fund price fall to the buffer | 0.4% | |
| Benchmark | ||
| What it tracks | MSCI EAFE Index | EFA |
| The outcome period | ||
| Room to the cap | 15.6% | |
| Buffer left, in index points | 13.8% of 15.0% | |
| Days left in the period | 324 | |
| Period ends | Sep 17, 2027 | |
| Cost and size | ||
| Expense ratio | 0.32% | 0.90% |
| Net assets, as of Oct 27, 2026 | $76.8bn | $135m |
| Holdings | ||
| Holdings in common | not published | |
| In the S&P 500, by weight | 0% | |
| Top ten holdings, share of the fund | 14.3% | |
Side by side
EFA and YSEP 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.
YSEP
From its price on Oct 28, 2026, the fund can gain about 15.6% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 0.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, EFA can fall 0.0% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 13.8% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's EFA level. 324 days remained on Oct 28, 2026. On Sep 17, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.
Questions people ask
- Are EFA and YSEP in the same category?
- EFA is a stock ETF and YSEP is a buffer ETF, so they do different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and holdings.
- Which returned more over the last year, EFA or YSEP?
- In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, EFA returned +12.1% and YSEP +10.1%.
- Which is cheaper, EFA or YSEP?
- EFA is cheaper, by 0.58 percentage points a year. That is about $58 on $10,000 held for a year. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
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ETFIQ, EFA against YSEP, data as of Oct 28, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/efa-vs-ysep
ETFIQ. (Oct 28, 2026). EFA against YSEP. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/compare/any/efa-vs-ysep
[EFA against YSEP (ETFIQ, Oct 28, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/compare/any/efa-vs-ysep)
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