iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) Performance
EFA total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +8.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +11.9% total return
- 5 years
- +8.3% a year
- 10 years
- +9.0% a year
- Since first price
- +6.4% a year since 2001
EFA trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | EFA total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −2.1% | −2.1% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −0.3% | −0.3% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +3.0% | +1.4% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +8.6% | +6.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +11.9% | +8.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +69.3%+19.2%/yr | +54.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +49.2%+8.3%/yr | +27.5% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +136.8%+9.0%/yr | +76.4% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +208.8%+7.8%/yr | +97.1% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +168.4%+5.1%/yr | +46.9% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionAug 17, 2001 | +376.8%+6.4%/yr | +144.2% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: EFA vs SPY
From Aug 17, 2001: EFA grew to $47,679, SPY to $102,491.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
EFA returns by calendar year
17 of 24 full years positive. Best 2003 (+39.8%), worst 2008 (−41.0%). 2026 is year to date.
EFA annual returns table
| Year | EFA | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +8.6% | −11.4% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +31.5% | −14.1% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +3.5% | −9.8% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +18.4% | −11.6% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −14.4% | −28.7% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +11.4% | −7.0% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +7.6% | −33.9% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +22.0% | −8.1% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −13.8% | −22.1% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +25.1% | −2.3% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +1.4% | −11.1% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −1.0% | −16.4% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −6.2% | −14.0% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +21.4% | −10.2% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +18.8% | −16.6% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −12.2% | −25.9% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +8.2% | −20.2% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +27.0% | −30.2% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −41.0% | −53.6% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +10.0% | −11.6% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +25.8% | −15.8% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
| 2005 | +13.3% | −7.2% | +4.8% | +1.6% | +2.3% |
| 2004 | +19.0% | −9.8% | +10.7% | +10.5% | +3.8% |
| 2003 | +39.8% | −15.6% | +28.2% | +49.7% | — |
| 2002 | −15.4% | −28.3% | −21.6% | −37.4% | — |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
EFA largest drawdowns
Now 5.7% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2007 | −61.0% | Mar 9, 2009 | Jun 6, 2014 | 1.4 years | 6.6 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −34.2% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 16, 2020 | 2.2 years | 2.8 years |
| Aug 24, 2001 | −31.4% | Mar 12, 2003 | Oct 14, 2003 | 1.5 years | 2.1 years |
| Sep 7, 2021 | −29.5% | Sep 27, 2022 | Feb 20, 2024 | 1.1 years | 2.5 years |
| Jul 3, 2014 | −23.1% | Feb 11, 2016 | May 4, 2017 | 1.6 years | 2.8 years |
| May 9, 2006 | −15.8% | Jun 13, 2006 | Oct 26, 2006 | 35 days | 6 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
EFA risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +18.3% | +9.3% | +9.0% | +6.5% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.9% | 15.6% | 15.0% | 16.6% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.12 | 0.42 | 0.50 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.82 | 0.63 | 0.74 | — |
| Best month | +8.2% | +13.2% | +14.3% | +14.3% |
| Worst month | −7.8% | −9.2% | −14.1% | −20.8% |
| Best 12 months | +33.8% | +33.8% | +45.3% | +58.2% |
| Worst 12 months | +3.5% | −25.2% | −25.2% | −50.0% |
| Positive months | 72% | 63% | 64% | 61% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.60 | 0.78 | 0.81 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.63 | 0.79 | 0.83 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
EFA rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 291 | −50.0% | +11.3% | +58.2% | 67% |
| 3-year (a year) | 267 | −15.6% | +6.6% | +31.0% | 83% |
| 5-year (a year) | 243 | −7.4% | +5.7% | +23.3% | 88% |
| 10-year (a year) | 183 | +0.6% | +5.2% | +10.2% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2001. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
EFA performance overview
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) returned +11.9% over the past year and +9.0% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2001 it has returned +6.4% a year, turning $10,000 into about $47,679. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −61.0%, from Oct 31, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 5.2 years to get back to the old high. EFA finished 17 of its 24 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2003 (+39.8%) and the worst 2008 (−41.0%). Volatility has been 16.6% a year.
Related: EFA chart, EFA holdings, EFA dividends. See the EFA overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
EFA performance FAQ
What is the EFA return over the past year?
EFA returned +11.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 8.2%.
What is the average annual return of EFA?
EFA has returned +8.3% a year over 5 years, +9.0% a year over 10 years, +6.4% a year since August 17, 2001 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in EFA be worth?
$10,000 invested in EFA at its first recorded close on August 17, 2001 would be worth about $47,679 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for EFA?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −41.0%. The best was 2003 at +39.8%.
What is the biggest drawdown of EFA?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −61.0% between October 31, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on June 6, 2014, 5.2 years after the bottom.
How volatile is EFA?
Over the past 3 years EFA had an annualized volatility of 11.9% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.12 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).