Data as of Oct 28, 2026.
IDEC vs IEFA: Differences, Returns & Fees
Over the year to Oct 28, 2026, IDEC returned +9.2% to IEFA's +12.3%, and IEFA charges 0.07% to IDEC's 0.85%.
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Net assets on Oct 28, 2026: $39m for Innovator Intl Developed Power Buffer ETF - Dec and $190.4bn for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF.
Pair scorecard
IEFA costs 0.78 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 3.1 points; IEFA is far larger, $190.4bn against $39m.
| Measure | IDEC | IEFA |
|---|---|---|
| Return | ||
| Total return, 1 year | +9.2% | +12.3% |
| Drawdown | ||
| Below its high | 4.7%, high on Aug 25, 2026 | |
| Index fall to the buffer | 8.1% | |
| Fund price fall to the buffer | 8.4% | |
| Benchmark | ||
| What it tracks | EFA | MSCI EAFE IMI Index |
| The outcome period | ||
| Room to the cap | 7.7% | |
| Buffer left, in index points | 15.0% of 15.0% | |
| Days left in the period | 33 | |
| Period ends | Nov 30, 2026 | |
| Cost and size | ||
| Expense ratio | 0.85% | 0.07% |
| Net assets | $39m | $190.4bn |
| Holdings | ||
| Holdings in common | not published | |
| In the S&P 500, by weight | 0% | |
| Holdings dated | Oct 27, 2026 | |
| Top ten holdings, share of the fund | 12.3% | |
Side by side
IDEC and IEFA on the fields both publish, as of Oct 28, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
IDEC
From its price on Oct 28, 2026, the fund can gain about 7.7% more before it reaches its cap. The fund's price can fall 8.4% from here before the buffer starts absorbing losses, by the issuer's number. In index terms, EFA can fall 8.1% from today's level to the point where the buffer begins. Protection left, in index points: 15.0% of the 15.0% buffer still sits below today's EFA level. 33 days remained on Oct 28, 2026. On Nov 30, 2026 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 IDEC and IEFA in the same category?
- IDEC 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, IDEC or IEFA?
- In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, IDEC returned +9.2% and IEFA +12.3%.
- Which is cheaper, IDEC 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.
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ETFIQ, IDEC against IEFA, data as of Oct 28, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/idec-vs-iefa
ETFIQ. (Oct 28, 2026). IDEC against IEFA. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/compare/any/idec-vs-iefa
[IDEC against IEFA (ETFIQ, Oct 28, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/compare/any/idec-vs-iefa)
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