iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) Performance
IEFA total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +8.7% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +11.9% total return
- 5 years
- +8.1% a year
- 10 years
- +9.1% a year
- Since first price
- +8.0% a year since 2012
IEFA trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | IEFA total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −2.2% | −2.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −0.1% | −0.1% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +2.9% | +1.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +8.7% | +7.0% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +11.9% | +8.0% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +70.5%+19.5%/yr | +54.3% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +47.4%+8.1%/yr | +25.1% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +138.4%+9.1%/yr | +76.3% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionOct 22, 2012 | +194.8%+8.0%/yr | +97.4% | — | — | — |
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: IEFA vs SPY
From Oct 22, 2012: IEFA grew to $29,484, SPY to $67,369.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
IEFA returns by calendar year
10 of 13 full years positive. Best 2025 (+32.1%), worst 2022 (−15.2%). 2026 is year to date.
IEFA annual returns table
| Year | IEFA | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +8.7% | −11.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +32.1% | −13.8% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +3.3% | −9.9% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +18.0% | −11.9% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −15.2% | −29.2% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +11.6% | −7.3% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +8.2% | −34.5% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +22.6% | −8.0% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −14.1% | −22.7% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +26.6% | −2.1% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +1.6% | −11.2% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +0.7% | −15.8% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −6.3% | −14.1% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +22.5% | −10.1% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
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.
IEFA largest drawdowns
Now 5.7% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 2018 | −34.8% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 16, 2020 | 2.2 years | 2.8 years |
| Sep 3, 2021 | −30.4% | Sep 27, 2022 | Mar 1, 2024 | 1.1 years | 2.5 years |
| May 15, 2015 | −22.1% | Feb 11, 2016 | Apr 25, 2017 | 9 months | 1.9 years |
| Jul 3, 2014 | −14.4% | Jan 6, 2015 | May 14, 2015 | 6 months | 10 months |
| Mar 19, 2025 | −13.8% | Apr 8, 2025 | Apr 29, 2025 | 20 days | 41 days |
| Feb 25, 2026 | −11.5% | Mar 20, 2026 | Jun 15, 2026 | 23 days | 4 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
IEFA risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +18.5% | +9.0% | +9.0% | +8.3% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.1% | 15.7% | 15.1% | 14.3% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.11 | 0.40 | 0.50 | 0.52 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.81 | 0.60 | 0.74 | 0.78 |
| Best month | +8.3% | +13.2% | +13.9% | +13.9% |
| Worst month | −7.9% | −9.6% | −14.6% | −14.6% |
| Best 12 months | +35.3% | +35.3% | +47.5% | +47.5% |
| Worst 12 months | +3.3% | −26.2% | −26.2% | −26.2% |
| Positive months | 72% | 63% | 65% | 63% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.62 | 0.79 | 0.82 | — |
| 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.
IEFA rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 157 | −26.2% | +9.4% | +47.5% | 68% |
| 3-year (a year) | 133 | −2.0% | +5.9% | +21.9% | 92% |
| 5-year (a year) | 109 | −0.9% | +6.5% | +12.0% | 97% |
| 10-year (a year) | 49 | +3.3% | +5.5% | +10.4% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2012. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
IEFA performance overview
iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) returned +11.9% over the past year and +9.1% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2012 it has returned +8.0% a year, turning $10,000 into about $29,484. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −34.8%, from Jan 26, 2018 to Mar 23, 2020, and it took 8 months to get back to the old high. IEFA finished 10 of its 13 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+32.1%) and the worst 2022 (−15.2%). Volatility has been 14.3% a year.
Related: IEFA chart, IEFA holdings, IEFA dividends. See the IEFA overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
IEFA performance FAQ
What is the IEFA return over the past year?
IEFA returned +11.9% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 8.0%.
What is the average annual return of IEFA?
IEFA has returned +8.1% a year over 5 years, +9.1% a year over 10 years, +8.0% a year since October 22, 2012 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in IEFA be worth?
$10,000 invested in IEFA at its first recorded close on October 22, 2012 would be worth about $29,484 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for IEFA?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −15.2%. The best was 2025 at +32.1%.
What is the biggest drawdown of IEFA?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −34.8% between January 26, 2018 and March 23, 2020. It recovered to the old high on November 16, 2020, 8 months after the bottom.
How volatile is IEFA?
Over the past 3 years IEFA had an annualized volatility of 12.1% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.11 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).