Compare/Updated Oct 26, 2026, refreshed every trading day
IEFA vs VXUS
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF against Vanguard Total International Stock ETF: 4 years of returns, risk and today’s technical read, from Kavout’s own data.
VXUS did slightly better over the period: $1,000 invested on October 28, 2022 grew to $1,944, versus $1,926 for IEFA, producing total returns of 94.4% and 92.6%, respectively. VXUS also led over the 1-year and 3-year periods and had stronger YTD performance, while IEFA performed better over the past month, three months, and six months. The difference was modest, with highly similar daily movements and a 0.971 correlation. VXUS was somewhat riskier, showing 17.1% trailing 12-month volatility versus 15.8% for IEFA, although its worst drawdown was slightly less severe at -13.6% versus -13.8%. VXUS also has the lower expense ratio, 0.05% versus 0.07%, and substantially larger fund assets.
- Price is above its 200-day average ($95); 50-day at $98.
- RSI 41, neutral. Supertrend says sell. ADX 18, so the trend is weak.
- Price is below its 200-day average ($83); 50-day at $86.
- RSI 35, neutral. Supertrend says sell. ADX 22, so the trend is developing.
Head to head
Which has returned more, IEFA or VXUS?
IEFA beat VXUS in 25 of the last 48 months; VXUS won the other 23. The typical monthly gap was 0.60 points.
Total return by period
Which is riskier?
Both: Mar 19, 2025 to Apr 8, 2025
- 0.971
- correlation of daily moves, 4 years
- 0.97
- IEFA move per 1% in VXUS
- 0.960
- correlation, last 12 months
Month by month
Of the last 48 months. The typical gap was 0.60 points.
When did they diverge?
| Month | IEFA | VXUS | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | +1.7% | -1.1% | +2.79 pts |
| April 2026 | +5.5% | +7.7% | -2.18 pts |
| October 2026 | -1.2% | -2.9% | +1.62 pts |
| September 2024 | +1.1% | +2.6% | -1.49 pts |
Where the numbers come from. 1000 daily adjusted closes per fund from the Kavout market-data API, dividends included. Signals and indicators are Kavout’s own, refreshed nightly. Every figure is calculated from those adjusted closes.
Holdings and fees
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