VXUS vs IEFA ETF comparison
VXUS vs IEFA
VXUS holds stocks from developed and emerging markets outside the United States, and IEFA holds stocks from developed markets outside the United States. The total international fund holds the developed-market stocks in the other fund and adds emerging markets on top, so the overlap is high and the gap is the emerging-market slice.
VXUS charges 0.05% and IEFA charges 0.07%. This page lines up what each fund holds, how much they overlap, what each paid and how each performed, with the date next to every number.
VXUS vs IEFA, the short answer
VXUS and IEFA differ mainly in what they hold and what they charge. The total international fund holds the developed-market stocks in the other fund and adds emerging markets on top, so the overlap is high and the gap is the emerging-market slice. Expense ratios are 0.05% and 0.07%.
Market price total returns, annualized (both to Nov 9, 2026): 1 year 15.06% vs 15.23%; 3 years 19.45% vs 18.97%; 5 years 8.04% vs 8.21%; 10 years 9.32% vs 9.45%. Neither is better for everyone; the choice turns on cost, which markets you want, and what you already own.
VXUS vs IEFA overlap, if you own both
VXUS · ten largest holdings
As of Sep 30, 2026- 1Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 23304.24%Only here
- 2Samsung Electronics 0059302.02%Only here
- 3SK hynix 0006601.65%Only here
- 4ASML Holding ASML1.54%Both
- 5Tencent Holdings 07000.76%Only here
- 6HSBC Holdings HSBA0.76%Both
- 7Roche Holding ROP0.65%Both
- 8Shell SHEL0.62%Both
- 9Royal Bank of Canada RY0.61%Only here
- 10Novartis NOVN0.59%Both
Ten largest total 13.4%
IEFA · ten largest holdings
As of Nov 6, 2026- 1ASML Holding ASML2.27%Both
- 2Roche Holding ROP1.36%Both
- 3HSBC Holdings HSBA1.21%Both
- 4Novartis NOVN1.21%Both
- 5Shell SHEL1.17%Both
- 6AstraZeneca AZN1.15%Only here
- 7Nestle NESN1.10%Only here
- 8SAP SAP0.97%Only here
- 9Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group 83060.89%Only here
- 10Siemens SIE0.87%Only here
Ten largest total 12.2%
Shared by both · 5 companies
| Company | VXUS weight | IEFA weight | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML Holding ASML | 1.54% | 2.27% | -0.73 pts |
| HSBC Holdings HSBA | 0.76% | 1.21% | -0.45 pts |
| Roche Holding ROP | 0.65% | 1.36% | -0.71 pts |
| Shell SHEL | 0.62% | 1.17% | -0.55 pts |
| Novartis NOVN | 0.59% | 1.21% | -0.62 pts |
Only in VXUS’s top ten: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, Tencent Holdings, Royal Bank of Canada. Only in IEFA’s top ten: AstraZeneca, Nestle, SAP, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Siemens.
The twist
56.5% of the weight sits in stocks both funds hold (matched by ISIN in the SEC filings dated Jul 31, 2026), and 5 stocks appear in both top-ten lists. Holding both repeats more than half of the same exposure, so the second fund mostly adds weight to what you already own.
VXUS vs IEFA, one goal, which fund?
VXUS vs IEFA, where the money goes
VXUS · Vanguard, Sep 30, 2026
IEFA · iShares, Nov 6, 2026
VXUS vs IEFA returns compared across calendar years
Calendar-year market price total returns (distributions reinvested), computed from daily adjusted closing prices to Dec 31 of each year. Both funds use the same days, so the years compare like for like. Source: StockAnalysis price history, Nov 9, 2026.
VXUS vs IEFA, what each fund costs a year
The data room
Every figure behind the VXUS vs IEFA cards above, with its source, date and evidence grade. Open the issuer documents before relying on any number.
VXUS vs IEFA key facts
Evidence grade: Issuer issuer page · Mixed issuer plus provider · 3rd party| Metric | VXUS | IEFA | Grade and source |
|---|
Portfolio characteristics
| Metric | VXUS | IEFA | Grade and source |
|---|
Net assets are for the ETF share class on different dates (VXUS $158.04B; IEFA $192.79B), so they are not matched. Figures that were not available are left out rather than estimated.
VXUS vs IEFA holdings and top ten
Click a tile · VXUS: Vanguard, Sep 30, 2026 · IEFA: iShares, Nov 6, 2026Tile area is proportional to weight.
| # | Holding | Weight |
|---|
| # | Holding | Weight |
|---|
Top ten sums: VXUS 13.4% · IEFA 12.2%. 5 shared top-ten stocks. Weights change.
VXUS vs IEFA sector exposure
VXUS: Sep 30, 2026 · IEFA: Nov 6, 2026The sector mirror
Same funds, different lenses
Company size
Both hold large, mid-size and small companies. VXUS holds 8,901 stocks and IEFA holds 2,624.
What you actually own
VXUS vs IEFA performance
Matched dates, both to Nov 9, 2026; issuer NAV rows dated separatelyThe first rows are market price total returns computed on the same dates for both funds (to Nov 9, 2026), so they compare like for like. The 10-year figure runs from the Dec 30, 2016 close (9.9 years). The issuer NAV rows are dated separately (VXUS to Oct 31, 2026, IEFA to Sep 30, 2026) and include the since-inception figures. “Since inception” starts in different years (VXUS 2011, IEFA 2012). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Growth of a hypothetical $10,000 · Market price total return, both to Nov 9, 2026
Both funds derived from annualized market price total returns on matched dates (compounded). Distributions reinvested; fund expenses are already in the price. Illustration, not a forecast.
VXUS vs IEFA yield, dividends and dividend growth
Latest eight payouts each| VXUS ex-date | Payable | $ / share | IEFA ex-date | Payable | $ / share |
|---|
Paid per share, last 12 months vs the 12 months before
Payouts are listed by ex-dividend date. Because IEFA pays semi-annually, the like-for-like comparison is the total paid over the last 12 months against the 12 months before (cards above: VXUS $1.985 per share, IEFA $3.289 per share). Shares pay most income in one or two large payouts, so a single payout says little. See yield vs total return.
| Measure | VXUS | IEFA |
|---|---|---|
| 30-day SEC yield | Not reported by Vanguard for this ETF; Vanguard distribution yield 2.42% (Nov 10, 2026) | 2.45% (Sep 30, 2026) |
| Trailing 12-month | 2.39% (Nov 9) | 3.36% (Sep 30, 2026) |
| Paid, last 12 months | $1.985 per share | $3.289 per share |
| Frequency | Quarterly | Semi-annual |
Per-share payouts differ because share prices differ, so compare yields rather than dollars. International funds pay most of the year’s income in one large December payout, so a single quarter says little. Payouts shown: VXUS 12, IEFA 9. See what is dividend yield and yield vs total return.
VXUS vs IEFA concentration and overlap
Ten largest positions · shared holdingsRank by rank, the ten largest positions of each fund. Top five: VXUS 10.2%, IEFA 7.2%. Top ten: VXUS 13.4%, IEFA 12.2%.
VXUS vs IEFA trading and liquidity
Issuer and fund pages · Nov 6 to Nov 9, 2026Large funds like these usually trade with small spreads, but check the live spread before you trade. A spread of 0.01% is about $10 between the buy and sell price on $100,000. Foreign markets are closed for part of the U.S. day, so the price can drift from NAV when the underlying stocks are not trading. Use limit orders for large trades and avoid the first and last minutes of the session. See creation, redemption and trading for how NAV, premiums and spreads arise.
VXUS vs IEFA expense ratio and fees in dollars
As stated by each issuer| Balance | VXUS (0.05%) | IEFA (0.07%) | Gap per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000 | $5 | $7 | $2 |
| $50,000 | $25 | $35 | $10 |
| $100,000 | $50 | $70 | $20 |
Expense ratio is taken from fund assets, not billed. It excludes the bid/ask spread, any premium or discount to NAV, brokerage commissions, taxes, and foreign withholding taxes that reduce dividends before the fund receives them.
VXUS vs IEFA, how each fund picks its stocks
Index approach, in plain languageVXUS · FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index
VXUS tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index. VXUS holds about 8,901 stocks and was launched in 2011; the ten largest positions total 13.4%. Index rules and rebalance dates are in the fund’s prospectus.
IEFA · MSCI EAFE IMI Index
IEFA tracks the MSCI EAFE IMI Index. IEFA holds about 2,624 stocks and was launched in 2012; the ten largest positions total 12.2%. Index rules and rebalance dates are in the fund’s prospectus.
Exact eligibility rules, caps and rebalance dates sit in each prospectus and index methodology; read them before relying on this summary.
VXUS vs IEFA, why yield and returns differ
Sector mix explains much of the gapThe total international fund holds the developed-market stocks in the other fund and adds emerging markets on top, so the overlap is high and the gap is the emerging-market slice.
VXUS follows the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index and IEFA follows the MSCI EAFE IMI Index. Because each provider draws its own market lines, the funds hold different numbers of stocks (8,901 against 2,624) and carry different weights in countries such as South Korea, Canada and Taiwan. Over any window the results can diverge in either direction, and the gap comes mostly from what each fund holds and when each is priced, not from fees.
How to decide between VXUS and IEFA
A step-by-step frameworkStart with what separates them: The total international fund holds the developed-market stocks in the other fund and adds emerging markets on top, so the overlap is high and the gap is the emerging-market slice. Then check what you already own: the funds overlap by 56.5%, so holding both is a real decision about how much of each market you want.
- Step 1 · Market: VXUS holds stocks from developed and emerging markets outside the United States; IEFA holds stocks from developed markets outside the United States.
- Step 2 · Cost: VXUS 0.05% vs IEFA 0.07%.
- Step 3 · Concentration: ten largest positions 13.4% vs 12.2%.
- Step 4 · Overlap: use the Diversification Calculator against what you own.
Size the position against your whole portfolio, including any U.S. stock fund you hold.
VXUS vs IEFA for Canadian investors
Currency, withholding tax and account typeVXUS and IEFA are U.S.-listed and trade in U.S. dollars, so buying them from a Canadian account usually involves converting Canadian dollars, which adds a cost on both entry and exit. The funds also hold shares priced in euros, yen, pounds and other currencies, so a move in the U.S. dollar changes your return in Canadian dollars as well.
Foreign governments usually withhold tax on dividends paid to the funds before the fund receives them. In a taxable account, part of that tax may be claimable through the foreign tax credit. The treaty exemption that applies to U.S. dividends inside an RRSP generally does not cover foreign withholding on shares of non-U.S. companies, and a TFSA is not exempt either. Rules depend on the fund and the account, so confirm them with a tax professional. This is general education, not tax advice.
Risks of VXUS and IEFA
What can go wrongShared risks
- Both hold foreign stocks and can fall with global markets; neither holds U.S. companies.
- Currency risk: the funds hold shares priced in other currencies, so a stronger U.S. dollar reduces returns measured in dollars.
- Country and political risk: each fund is heavily weighted to a few countries, including Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Taiwan, China or South Korea depending on the fund.
- Both hold large positions in a handful of technology and financial companies, which can move the fund on their own.
Fund-specific risks
- VXUS: ten largest positions total 13.4% (Sep 30, 2026); 8,901 holdings.
- IEFA: ten largest positions total 12.2% (Nov 6, 2026); 2,624 holdings.
- Emerging markets: higher volatility, and rules on foreign ownership can change.
- Both: exchange-traded structure; see each prospectus for legal form.
VXUS vs IEFA taxes and account placement
General education, not tax adviceBoth funds invest in foreign stocks. Their dividends are mostly taxed at ordinary or qualified rates depending on the stock and holding period, and foreign taxes withheld at source can often be claimed back as a foreign tax credit in a taxable U.S. account. Check each fund’s tax documents for details.
For Canadian account types and withholding tax, see the Canadian section above. Confirm the rules for your account with a tax professional, and read how to build an ETF portfolio.
Other ETFs people compare
For context, not recommendationsInvestors comparing VXUS and IEFA often also look at the other international funds in this group: VXUS, IXUS, VEA, IEFA, VWO and IEMG. See the other International ETFs comparisons and the ETF research hub.
VXUS vs IEFA drawdown arithmetic
What a decline means in dollarsRecovery gain = decline ÷ (1 − decline). Calendar-year returns were not captured for these funds, so the last two scenarios use an illustrative 30% decline. Used as a rough guide to a bad year, not a worst-case figure. See the Position Size Calculator.
Tools to compare VXUS vs IEFA
Static weights from this pageIgnores taxes, spreads and holdings differences. ETF Fee Calculator.
Check shared exposure with the Diversification Calculator.
VXUS vs IEFA, which fits which job
Characteristics, not recommendationsVXUS may suit investors who want…
Exposure to every market outside the United States.
Strengths
- Lower fee: 0.05% against 0.07%
- More holdings: 8,901 against 2,624
- Pays distributions
- Exchange-traded and priced all day
Watch points
- Heavier top ten: 13.4% against 12.2%
- Led in only 1 of 4 return windows (both to Nov 9, 2026)
- Not a complete portfolio
- Foreign stocks and currency swings
IEFA may suit investors who want…
Developed markets outside the United States.
Strengths
- Flatter top ten: 12.2% against 13.4%
- Led in 3 of 4 return windows (both to Nov 9, 2026)
- Pays distributions
- Exchange-traded and priced all day
Watch points
- Higher fee: 0.07% against 0.05%
- Fewer holdings: 2,624 against 8,901
- Not a complete portfolio
- Foreign stocks and currency swings
VXUS vs IEFA investor scenarios
Characteristics that fit, not recommendationsVXUS vs IEFA key terms
Plain-language definitions
VXUS vs IEFA, frequently asked questions
Answers use the figures and dates shown aboveIs VXUS or IEFA better?
In the VXUS vs IEFA question, neither is better for everyone. VXUS and IEFA differ mainly in what they hold and what they charge. The total international fund holds the developed-market stocks in the other fund and adds emerging markets on top, so the overlap is high and the gap is the emerging-market slice.
Expense ratios are 0.05% and 0.07%. Market price total returns, annualized (both to Nov 9, 2026): 1 year 15.06% vs 15.23%; 3 years 19.45% vs 18.97%; 5 years 8.04% vs 8.21%; 10 years 9.32% vs 9.45%. Neither is better for everyone; the choice turns on cost, which markets you want, and what you already own.
VXUS vs IEFA, what are the expense ratios?
VXUS charges 0.05% and IEFA charges 0.07%, which is $5 and $7 a year per $10,000.
VXUS vs IEFA, how much do the funds overlap?
About 56.5% of the weight is held by both funds, matched by ISIN in SEC filings dated Jul 31, 2026. 5 stocks appear in both top-ten lists.
VXUS vs IEFA, what does each ETF track?
VXUS tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index. IEFA tracks the MSCI EAFE IMI Index.
VXUS vs IEFA, what are the top holdings?
VXUS (Sep 30, 2026): Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 4.24%, Samsung Electronics 2.02%, SK hynix 1.65%, ASML Holding 1.54%, Tencent Holdings 0.76%. IEFA (Nov 6, 2026): ASML Holding 2.27%, Roche Holding 1.36%, HSBC Holdings 1.21%, Novartis 1.21%, Shell 1.17%.
VXUS vs IEFA, which has performed better?
Market price total returns, annualized (both to Nov 9, 2026): 1 year 15.06% vs 15.23%; 3 years 19.45% vs 18.97%; 5 years 8.04% vs 8.21%; 10 years 9.32% vs 9.45%. Returns depend on what each fund holds, and past performance does not guarantee future results.
VXUS vs IEFA, can I own both?
On VXUS vs IEFA, you can, but they overlap by about 56.5%. 5 top-ten stocks are shared. Holding both repeats more than half of the same exposure, so the second fund mostly adds weight to what you already own.
VXUS vs IEFA, how often do the funds pay dividends?
VXUS pays quarterly and IEFA pays semi-annual. Trailing yields are 2.39% trailing and 2.45%; check each issuer page for the schedule.
VXUS vs IEFA, are they suitable for Canadian investors?
On VXUS vs IEFA, both are U.S.-listed and trade in U.S. dollars, so Canadians face currency conversion costs and foreign withholding tax on dividends. Treatment differs across TFSA, RRSP and taxable accounts. This is general education, not tax advice.
VXUS vs IEFA, how do the funds differ by sector?
VXUS (Sep 30, 2026): financials 23.1%, information technology 18.7%, industrials 15.2%. IEFA (Nov 6, 2026): financials 23.8%, industrials 18.3%, health care 10.6%.
VXUS vs IEFA documents and sources
Open the issuer documents before relying on any figureVXUS · Vanguard
IEFA · iShares (BlackRock)
Third-party sources
StockAnalysis VXUS · StockAnalysis IEFA · SEC EDGAR Form N-PORT filings.
Methodology and limits
- VXUS figures come from Vanguard fund pages and IEFA figures from iShares fund pages.
- Dates are shown beside each figure; the issuer documents are linked below.
- Holdings overlap uses SEC Form N-PORT equity holdings matched by ISIN: sum of the smaller weight of each security held by both funds. Report dates: Jul 31, 2026. The date gaps, cash, derivatives and unmatched securities make this a floor.
- Vanguard figures come from advisors.vanguard.com; iShares figures from ishares.com including the holdings file; market data (assets, shares, beta, range) from StockAnalysis, dated Nov 9, 2026.
- Sector labels differ by provider (FTSE and MSCI); technology, telecommunications and basic materials were mapped to technology, communication and materials. Cross-provider gaps are approximate.
- Figures that were unavailable are left out, and nothing was filled from memory or from another fund.
- Growth of $10,000 is derived from annualized market price total returns on matched dates; dollar values are approximate.
- Returns are computed from daily adjusted closing prices (distributions reinvested) so both funds share the same dates (the 10-year figure runs from Dec 30, 2016, 9.9 years); the issuers’ own NAV returns are shown beside them with their dates.
Educational research, not personalized investment, tax or legal advice, and not a recommendation to buy or sell any fund. Investing involves risk, including loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Calculators are hypothetical illustrations. Fund data are provided as published by the sources named and may differ from current figures.