EFA vs IJR
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF vs iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-10
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to equities in developed international markets outside the U.S.. It charges an above-average expense ratio of 0.32%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.18%. Launched in 2001, the fund has a 25-year track record.
iShares Core S&P Small-Cap ETF (IJR) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to small-cap U.S. equities with higher growth potential and volatility. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.06%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.23%. Launched in 2000, the fund has a 26-year track record.
Quick Verdict
IJR is significantly cheaper at 0.06% vs 0.32% expense ratio, saving you approximately $512 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, IJR has significantly outperformed with a 38.1% return vs 32.6%. Income investors may prefer EFA for its higher yield (3.2% vs 1.2%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
0 of top 10 holdings overlap (0% overlap in top holdings)
EFA Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V.!ams/ASML | 2.54% |
| AstraZeneca PLC!lon/AZN | 1.47% |
| HSBC Holdings plc!lon/HSBA | 1.42% |
| Novartis AG!swx/NOVN | 1.35% |
| Roche Holding AG!swx/ROP | 1.29% |
| Shell plc!lon/SHEL | 1.20% |
| Nestlé S.A.!swx/NESN | 1.19% |
| Commonwealth Bank of Australia!asx/CBA | 0.98% |
| Siemens Aktiengesellschaft!etr/SIE | 0.95% |
| Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.!tyo/8306 | 0.95% |
IJR Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| BLK CSH FND TREASURY SL AGENCYXTSLA | 1.29% |
| Viavi Solutions Inc.VIAV | 0.60% |
| FormFactor, Inc.FORM | 0.57% |
| Eastman Chemical CompanyEMN | 0.53% |
| Primoris Services CorporationPRIM | 0.53% |
| Element Solutions IncESI | 0.53% |
| Argan, Inc.AGX | 0.51% |
| Semtech CorporationSMTC | 0.50% |
| ESCO Technologies Inc.ESE | 0.50% |
| Match Group, Inc.MTCH | 0.48% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose IJR if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose IJR if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose EFA if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.