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Data as of Oct 28, 2026.

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Across categories

IAUG vs IEFA: Differences, Returns & Fees

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Over the year to Oct 28, 2026, IAUG returned +7.4% to IEFA's +12.3%, and IEFA charges 0.07% to IAUG's 0.85%.

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Net assets on Oct 28, 2026: $80m for Innovator Intl Developed Power Buffer ETF - Aug and $190.4bn for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF.

IAUG on its own →IEFA on its own →
At a glance
+7.4%
IAUG total return, 1 year
+12.3%
IEFA total return, 1 year
0.85%
IAUG expense ratio
0.07%
IEFA expense ratio

Pair scorecard

IEFA costs 0.78 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 4.9 points; IEFA is far larger, $190.4bn against $80m.

IAUG vs IEFA: Differences, Returns & Fees
MeasureIAUGIEFA
Return
Total return, 1 year+7.4%+12.3%
Drawdown
Below its high4.7%, high on Aug 25, 2026
Benchmark
What it tracksEFAMSCI EAFE IMI Index
The outcome period
Room to the cap16.9%
Buffer left, in index points13.2% of 15.0%
Days left in the period276
Period endsJul 31, 2027
Cost and size
Expense ratio0.85%0.07%
Net assets$80m$190.4bn
Holdings
Holdings in commonnot published
In the S&P 500, by weight0%
Holdings datedOct 27, 2026
Top ten holdings, share of the fund12.3%

Method

Side by side

IAUG Innovator Intl Developed Power Buffer ETF - Aug IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF
Where it sits Buffer ETF Stock ETF
Issuer Innovator iShares
What it is Defined outcome, 15% on EFA Tracks the MSCI EAFE
Total return, 1 year +7.4% +12.3%
Its benchmark over the same days +8.4% (EFA) +14.3% (ACWX)
Gap to its benchmark −1.0 pts vs EFA −2.0 pts vs ACWX
Expense ratio 0.85% 0.07%
Holdings not read by ETFIQ 2629
Net assets $80m $190.4bn

IAUG and IEFA on the fields both publish, as of Oct 28, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.

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About each fund
IAUG

From its price on Oct 28, 2026, the fund can gain about 16.9% more before it reaches its cap. Protection left, in index points: 13.2% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's EFA level. 276 days remained on Oct 28, 2026. On Jul 31, 2027 the period ends and a new cap is set.

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

Are IAUG and IEFA in the same category?
IAUG is a buffer ETF and IEFA is a stock ETF, so they do different jobs. The table compares what both publish: return, cost and holdings.
Which returned more over the last year, IAUG or IEFA?
In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, IAUG returned +7.4% and IEFA +12.3%.
Which is cheaper, IAUG or IEFA?
IEFA is cheaper, by 0.78 percentage points a year. That is about $78 on $10,000 held for a year. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
Other comparisons
IAUG vs VEAEFA vs IAUGIEFA vs IJUNIEFA vs IMARIEFA vs ISEPIEFA vs IFEBIBUF vs IEFAIEFA vs IMAY
Where to next
EFA →IAUG on its own →IEFA on its own →Hold both: look the portfolio through →Rankings →IEFA dividend history →IEFA holdings →Standards and sources →
Sources and dates
IAUG filings on SEC EDGAR ↗
Innovator page for IAUG ↗
IEFA filings on SEC EDGAR ↗
IEFA prospectus with the expense ratio (SEC) ↗
iShares page for IEFA ↗

Links are sources, not endorsements. A comparison is not a recommendation.

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ETFIQ, IAUG against IEFA, data as of Oct 28, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iaug-vs-iefa

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