SPDR MSCI EAFE StrategicFactors ETF (QEFA) Performance
QEFA total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +11.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +15.3% total return
- 5 years
- +8.4% a year
- 10 years
- +9.2% a year
- Since first price
- +6.9% a year since 2014
QEFA trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | QEFA total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | +1.2% | +1.2% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | +3.4% | +3.4% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +5.7% | +4.0% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +11.6% | +9.9% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +15.3% | +11.9% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +67.5%+18.8%/yr | +53.1% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +49.6%+8.4%/yr | +29.0% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +142.2%+9.2%/yr | +84.9% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| Since inceptionJun 9, 2014 | +129.1%+6.9%/yr | +64.9% | — | — | — |
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: QEFA vs SPY
From Jun 9, 2014: QEFA grew to $22,905, SPY to $47,869.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
QEFA returns by calendar year
8 of 11 full years positive. Best 2025 (+29.3%), worst 2022 (−14.0%). 2026 is year to date.
QEFA annual returns table
| Year | QEFA | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +11.6% | −9.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +29.3% | −12.2% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +2.3% | −9.9% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +17.4% | −10.3% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −14.0% | −27.1% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +12.5% | −6.8% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +6.8% | −31.7% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +21.9% | −6.1% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −10.4% | −18.2% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +24.0% | −2.4% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | −0.2% | −9.5% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | +2.1% | −13.0% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
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.
QEFA largest drawdowns
Now 2.6% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 17, 2020 | −31.7% | Mar 16, 2020 | Nov 16, 2020 | 59 days | 10 months |
| Sep 3, 2021 | −28.1% | Sep 27, 2022 | Feb 22, 2024 | 1.1 years | 2.5 years |
| May 15, 2015 | −18.6% | Jan 20, 2016 | Apr 24, 2017 | 8 months | 1.9 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −18.2% | Dec 24, 2018 | Nov 1, 2019 | 11 months | 1.8 years |
| Jul 2, 2014 | −12.8% | Jan 6, 2015 | Apr 15, 2015 | 6 months | 9 months |
| Mar 19, 2025 | −12.2% | Apr 8, 2025 | Apr 28, 2025 | 20 days | 40 days |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
QEFA risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2014 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +16.8% | +8.5% | +8.7% | +6.7% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.2% | 14.4% | 13.7% | 13.2% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.06 | 0.39 | 0.51 | 0.42 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.72 | 0.59 | 0.77 | 0.63 |
| Best month | +7.5% | +12.5% | +12.9% | +12.9% |
| Worst month | −6.5% | −8.6% | −12.0% | −12.0% |
| Best 12 months | +32.1% | +32.1% | +37.7% | +37.7% |
| Worst 12 months | +2.3% | −23.5% | −23.5% | −23.5% |
| Positive months | 69% | 62% | 64% | 61% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.46 | 0.68 | 0.71 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.51 | 0.74 | 0.80 | — |
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.
QEFA rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 137 | −23.5% | +8.3% | +37.7% | 71% |
| 3-year (a year) | 113 | −1.5% | +6.1% | +19.9% | 98% |
| 5-year (a year) | 89 | +0.1% | +6.7% | +11.2% | 100% |
| 10-year (a year) | 29 | +4.8% | +7.4% | +9.8% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2014. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
QEFA performance overview
SPDR MSCI EAFE StrategicFactors ETF (QEFA) returned +15.3% over the past year and +9.2% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2014 it has returned +6.9% a year, turning $10,000 into about $22,905. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −31.7%, from Jan 17, 2020 to Mar 16, 2020, and it took 8 months to get back to the old high. QEFA finished 8 of its 11 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+29.3%) and the worst 2022 (−14.0%). Volatility has been 13.2% a year.
Related: QEFA chart, QEFA holdings, QEFA dividends. See the QEFA overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
QEFA performance FAQ
What is the QEFA return over the past year?
QEFA returned +15.3% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 11.9%.
What is the average annual return of QEFA?
QEFA has returned +8.4% a year over 5 years, +9.2% a year over 10 years, +6.9% a year since June 9, 2014 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in QEFA be worth?
$10,000 invested in QEFA at its first recorded close on June 9, 2014 would be worth about $22,905 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for QEFA?
The worst calendar year was 2022, with a total return of −14.0%. The best was 2025 at +29.3%.
What is the biggest drawdown of QEFA?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −31.7% between January 17, 2020 and March 16, 2020. It recovered to the old high on November 16, 2020, 8 months after the bottom.
How volatile is QEFA?
Over the past 3 years QEFA had an annualized volatility of 11.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.06 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).