iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF vs iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF — how do they compare? iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF trades at $96.52 (market cap $189.19B), while iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF trades at $81.4 (market cap $162.00B). The key difference: iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF is the larger of the two by market cap, and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF is more actively traded (13,446,151 versus 8,441,787). Which is the better fit depends on your goals — on Pluang, investors hold iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF for 40 Days and iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF for 57 Days on average.
| IEFA | IEMG | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $189.19B | $162.00B |
Volume | 8,441,787 | 13,446,151 |
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | Broad Market / Factor |
52-Week High | $101.41 | $86.00 |
52-Week Low | $85.06 | $64.22 |
Typical Hold Time | 40 Days | 57 Days |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
IEFA, the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF, trades at $95.87, down 0.34% on the day, with a bearish technical signal driven by moving averages and oscillators. The fund provides exposure to developed markets outside North America, managing $196 billion in assets. Recent news highlights comparisons with competing international ETFs, noting its higher dividend yield and lower costs relative to some peers, though it has underperformed others on a total return basis over the past year.
The outlook for IEFA is mixed, offering diversification benefits and income through dividends but facing headwinds from weaker relative performance and bearish technical momentum. Key risks include concentration in developed markets, which may lag during global growth shifts, and expense ratio competition. Analyst sentiment is cautious due to recent underperformance versus broader global funds.
IEMG is trading at $80.5, down 1.88% over the past 24 hours amid a bearish technical signal. The ETF's technical indicators show selling pressure with moving averages signaling bearish momentum, though oscillators remain neutral. Recent news highlights IEMG's strong performance against emerging market peers, with the fund delivering 35% returns over the past year according to Fool - Investing News on 2026-07-06, though it faces higher volatility than broader international alternatives.
The outlook for IEMG remains mixed with technical weakness offset by strong recent performance in emerging markets. Key risks include concentration in technology sectors (39% weighting) and higher volatility compared to developed market ETFs. Analyst comparisons favor IEMG for emerging market exposure but note cost disadvantages versus competitors like SCHE with its 0.03% expense ratio versus IEMG's 0.09%.
Trailing returns across standard periods
What Pluang investors did over the last 30 days
IEFA tracks the MSCI EAFE Investable Market Index, offering broad exposure to large, mid, and small-cap stocks in developed markets across Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. It serves as a low-cost core holding for international diversification, excluding the U.S. and Canada.
Read more on IEFA →IEMG tracks the MSCI Emerging Markets Investable Market Index, providing broad exposure to large, mid, and small-cap stocks across over 20 emerging market countries. It is designed as a low-cost core holding for investors seeking diversified growth from economies outside of developed markets.
Read more on IEMG →