Data as of Oct 28, 2026.
IEFA vs VNQ: Differences, Returns & Fees
Over the year to Oct 28, 2026, IEFA returned +12.3% to VNQ's +4.8%; 0% of their weight is in the same names.
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Net assets: $190.4bn on Oct 28, 2026 for iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF, and $35.9bn on Sep 30, 2026 for Vanguard Real Estate ETF.
Pair scorecard
IEFA costs 0.06 points a year less; their one-year returns differ by 7.5 points; IEFA is 5.3 times larger.
| Measure | IEFA | VNQ |
|---|---|---|
| Return | ||
| Total return, 1 year | +12.3% | +4.8% |
| Drawdown | ||
| Below its high | 4.7%, high on Aug 25, 2026 | 8.3%, high on Jul 28, 2026 |
| Benchmark | ||
| What it tracks | MSCI EAFE IMI Index | MSCI US Investable Market Real Estate 25/50 Index |
| Cost and size | ||
| Expense ratio | 0.07% | 0.13% |
| Net assets, as of Sep 30, 2026 | $190.2bn | $35.9bn |
| Holdings | ||
| Holdings in common | 0% | |
| Top ten holdings, share of the fund | 12.3% | 55.8% |
Holdings in common uses holdings dated Sep 30, 2026 and Oct 27, 2026. Method
What they share
By the books each fund has filed, IEFA and VNQ hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight. Holdings dated Sep 30, 2026 and Oct 27, 2026.
half
0% in common
Only in one fund ↓
Side by side
IEFA and VNQ on the fields both publish, as of Oct 28, 2026. Source: ETFIQ.
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.
VNQ
VNQ tracks an index of US real estate. Over the year to Oct 28, 2026 it returned +4.8% with distributions reinvested. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.13% a year. By its holdings published by its issuer as of Sep 30, 2026, 63% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 141 positions, with the top ten at 55.8%. It sat 8.3% below its high of Jul 28, 2026 on Oct 28, 2026.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, IEFA or VNQ?
- In the year to Oct 28, 2026, with distributions reinvested, IEFA returned +12.3% and VNQ +4.8%.
- Which is cheaper, IEFA or VNQ?
- IEFA is cheaper, by 0.06 percentage points a year. That is about $6 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, IEFA against VNQ, data as of Oct 28, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iefa-vs-vnq
ETFIQ. (Oct 28, 2026). IEFA against VNQ. Retrieved from https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iefa-vs-vnq
[IEFA against VNQ (ETFIQ, Oct 28, 2026)](https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iefa-vs-vnq)
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