iShares MSCI EAFE ETF

Frequently Asked Questions About EFA

What does EFA invest in?

This exchange-traded fund aims to mirror the financial returns of a specific benchmark. This index includes shares from major and mid-sized corporations operating in economically advanced nations, with the deliberate exclusion of those headquartered in the United States and Canada.

What is the expense ratio of EFA?

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) charges an expense ratio of 0.32%. This is the annual fee deducted from fund assets to cover management and operations.

How big is EFA?

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) manages $78.04B in total assets. AUM determines bid-ask liquidity and the fund's vulnerability to closure — funds below ~$50M are at higher risk of liquidation.

Is EFA actively managed or an index fund?

EFA is a passive index fund — it tracks a published benchmark by holding the constituents in their published weights. Index funds typically charge low expense ratios (EFA's is 0.32%) because there's no security selection cost.

When was EFA launched?

iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) launched in August 2001 and is managed by IShares.

How has EFA performed?

EFA's total return — price change plus reinvested distributions — is charted at the top of this page. Switch the price chart to Total Return and pick a 1-year, 3-year, 5-year, or 10-year window to read the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over each horizon.