Data as of Sep 13, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
IEFA vs USMV: how they differ
IEFA and USMV hold 1% of their weight in the same names, and IEFA returned more over the year.
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF and iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, IEFA and USMV hold 1% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Holding | IEFA | USMV |
|---|---|---|
| ROCHE PS PAR AG | 1.18% | 1.04% |
| ARISTOCRAT LEISURE | 0.09% | 0.56% |
| MERCK | 0.08% | 1.46% |
| TELENOR | 0.03% | 0.55% |
| AEROPORTS DE PARIS SA | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| BLK CSH FND TREASURY SL AGENCY | 0.01% | 0.17% |
| NEMETSCHEK | 0.01% | 0.45% |
| RESOLUTE MINING | 0.01% | 1.28% |
| Only in IEFA | Only in USMV |
|---|---|
| ASML HOLDING 2.62% | AMPHENOL CORP CLASS A 1.58% |
| HSBC HOLDINGS PLC 1.40% | MICROSOFT 1.56% |
| SHELL PLC 1.09% | NVIDIA 1.54% |
| MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL GROUP 1.00% | WELLTOWER 1.53% |
| NOVARTIS AG 0.99% | CHUBB 1.49% |
| NESTLE SA 0.97% | JOHNSON & JOHNSON 1.49% |
| ASTRAZENECA PLC 0.94% | VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC 1.49% |
| BHP GROUP LTD 0.91% | EXXONMOBIL HOLDINGS CORP 1.48% |
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 Sep 10, 2026.
| IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | USMV iShares MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Core index fund |
| Issuer | iShares | iShares |
| What it is | Core MSCI EAFE | MSCI USA Min Vol Factor |
| Total return, 1 year | +18.0% | +6.6% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +0.5 pts | −10.9 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.07% | 0.15% |
| Already in the S&P 500 | 0.1% | 94.8% |
| Holdings | 1650 | 175 |
IEFA in plain words
IEFA is an index equity fund tracking the Core MSCI EAFE. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +18.0% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.07% 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 1650 positions, with the top ten at 12.0%.
USMV in plain words
USMV is an index equity fund tracking the MSCI USA Min Vol Factor. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +6.6% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.15% a year. By its holdings filed for Sep 10, 2026, 95% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 175 positions, with the top ten at 15.1%.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, IEFA or USMV?
- In the year to Sep 13, 2026, with distributions reinvested, IEFA returned +18.0% and USMV returned +6.6%, so IEFA returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, IEFA or USMV?
- IEFA charges 0.07% a year and USMV charges 0.15%, so IEFA is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- How much do IEFA and USMV overlap with the S&P 500?
- By their latest filed holdings, 0% of IEFA and 95% of USMV by weight is stocks the S&P 500 already holds. Between the two funds, 1% 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, IEFA against USMV, data as of Sep 13, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iefa-vs-usmv Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources