Data as of Sep 13, 2026. Both funds on the fields they both publish, from the same sources.
IEFA vs XLE: how they differ
IEFA and XLE hold 0% of their weight in the same names, and XLE returned more over the year.
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF and State Street(R) Energy Select Sector SPDR(R) ETF.
What they hold in common
By the books each fund has filed, IEFA and XLE hold 0% of their money in the same securities at the same weight.
| Only in IEFA | Only in XLE |
|---|---|
| ASML HOLDING 2.62% | EXXONMOBIL HOLDINGS CORP 20.13% |
| HSBC HOLDINGS PLC 1.40% | CHEVRON CORP 15.18% |
| ROCHE PS PAR AG 1.18% | CONOCOPHILLIPS 6.36% |
| SHELL PLC 1.09% | MARATHON PETROLEUM CORP 5.63% |
| MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL GROUP 1.00% | PHILLIPS 66 5.52% |
| NOVARTIS AG 0.99% | VALERO ENERGY CORP 5.38% |
| NESTLE SA 0.97% | SLB LTD 4.49% |
| ASTRAZENECA PLC 0.94% | EOG RESOURCES INC 4.15% |
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 | XLE State Street(R) Energy Select Sector SPDR(R) ETF | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Core index fund | Core index fund |
| Issuer | iShares | State Street |
| What it is | Core MSCI EAFE | Energy |
| Total return, 1 year | +18.0% | +50.7% |
| S&P 500 over the same days | +17.5% | +17.5% |
| Gap to the S&P 500 | +0.5 pts | +33.2 pts |
| Expense ratio | 0.07% | 0.08% |
| Already in the S&P 500 | 0.1% | 100.0% |
| Holdings | 1650 | 24 |
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%.
XLE in plain words
XLE is an index equity fund tracking the Energy. Over the year to Sep 11, 2026 it returned +50.7% with distributions reinvested, against +17.5% for the S&P 500 and +23.0% for the Nasdaq-100. The prospectus expense ratio is 0.08% a year. By its holdings filed for Sep 10, 2026, 100% of the fund by weight is stocks the S&P 500 also holds, across 24 positions, with the top ten at 74.0%.
Questions people ask
- Which returned more over the last year, IEFA or XLE?
- In the year to Sep 13, 2026, with distributions reinvested, IEFA returned +18.0% and XLE returned +50.7%, so XLE returned more. One year is one year; the longer windows are in the table.
- Which is cheaper, IEFA or XLE?
- IEFA charges 0.07% a year and XLE charges 0.08%, so IEFA is cheaper. Fees come from each fund's prospectus.
- How much do IEFA and XLE overlap with the S&P 500?
- By their latest filed holdings, 0% of IEFA and 100% of XLE by weight is stocks the S&P 500 already holds. Between the two funds, 0% 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 XLE, data as of Sep 13, 2026. https://etfiq.com/compare/any/iefa-vs-xle Free to use with attribution; the underlying files are at Open data.
A comparison is not a recommendation. Standards and sources