VEA vs IEFA Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
VEA and IEFA both target developed international equity exposure but take different paths to get there — VEA via the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index, and IEFA via the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index. The practical differences come down to issuer, cost structure, and the specific index rules each fund follows, since both are pursuing a similar investment outcome.
VEA vs IEFA is largely a question of which issuer and index methodology you trust more for developed international equity exposure — the underlying investment case is similar, so cost, liquidity, and tracking precision tend to be the deciding factors.
VEA holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. VEA has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+21.51% vs +15.95% for IEFA).
- want the standard low-cost core holding for developed international exposure
- prefer Vanguard's approach and fund lineup
- value massive scale and one of the lowest expense ratios internationally
- are comfortable with currency fluctuations add a layer of volatility
- want the traditional EAFE benchmark for developed international exposure
- prefer iShares (BlackRock)'s approach and fund lineup
- value tracks the long-standing, widely used EAFE benchmark
- are comfortable with currency risk from unhedged foreign holdings
| Metric | VEA | IEFA |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 80.0 | 72.0 |
| Latest closei | $71.11 | $97.75 |
| 1M returni | -2.37% | -2.70% |
| 6M returni | +15.21% | +13.89% |
| 1Y returni | +21.51% | +15.95% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | VEA | IEFA |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $12.5K (+25.0%) started 2025-09-18 | $12.02K (+20.2%) started 2025-09-18 |
| 5Y ago | $19.14K (+91.4%) started 2021-09-20 | $18.27K (+82.7%) started 2021-09-20 |
| 10Y ago | $36.44K (+264.4%) started 2016-09-19 | $34.77K (+247.7%) started 2016-09-19 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | VEA | IEFA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.03% | 0.07% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $323.82B | $194.39B |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.49% | 3.29% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 16.55 | 17.80 |
| Betai | 0.87 | 0.81 |
| 52-week change | 21.51% | 15.95% |
| Metric | VEA | IEFA |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +21.51% | +15.95% |
| 6M returni | +15.21% | +13.89% |
| 1M returni | -2.37% | -2.70% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.95 | 0.74 |
| Betai | 0.87 | 0.81 |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.49% | 3.29% |
| 5Y CAGR | +10.14% | +8.89% |
Over the past year, VEA and IEFA have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.98), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | VEA | IEFA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +21.51% | +15.95% |
| CAGRi | +21.53% | +15.96% | |
| Volatilityi | 17.52% | 15.69% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.95 | 0.74 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.38 | 1.09 | |
| Max drawdowni | 11.63% | 11.50% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.64% | 3.61% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 1.94% | 1.88% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 3.14% | 3.02% | |
| Max daily dropi | 3.72% | 3.12% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 7.06% | 6.56% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +61.96% | +53.00% |
| CAGRi | +10.14% | +8.89% | |
| Volatilityi | 16.89% | 16.64% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.39 | 0.33 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.57 | 0.47 | |
| Max drawdowni | 29.34% | 30.02% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.64% | 3.61% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 6.48% | 6.63% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 9.30% | 9.53% | |
| Max daily dropi | 6.33% | 6.51% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 10.51% | 10.56% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +160.23% | +144.99% |
| CAGRi | +10.04% | +9.38% | |
| Volatilityi | 17.22% | 17.02% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.38 | 0.35 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.53 | 0.48 | |
| Max drawdowni | 35.74% | 34.79% | |
| Current drawdowni | 3.64% | 3.61% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 6.51% | 6.56% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 9.26% | 9.34% | |
| Max daily dropi | 11.18% | 10.85% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 20.94% | 20.43% |
| Category | VEA | IEFA |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares | iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.03% | 0.07% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $323.82B | $194.39B |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.49% | 3.29% |
- Massive scale and one of the lowest expense ratios internationally
- Broad developed-market diversification across Europe and Asia
- Includes small-caps that some peer funds exclude
- Tracks the long-standing, widely used EAFE benchmark
- Very low expense ratio in BlackRock's Core lineup
- High liquidity among international equity ETFs
- Currency fluctuations add a layer of volatility
- Developed markets have broadly lagged the US for over a decade
- No emerging-market exposure
- Currency risk from unhedged foreign holdings
- Developed international has structurally lagged US equities
- No emerging-market or Canadian exposure under the EAFE definition
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