iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF vs United Microelectronics Corp — how do they compare? iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF trades at $101.11, while United Microelectronics Corp trades at $19.43 (market cap $47.81B). The key difference: United Microelectronics Corp pays a 2.12% dividend while iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF pays none, and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF is trading nearer its 52-week high, United Microelectronics Corp nearer its low. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| IEFA | UMC | |
|---|---|---|
Sector | Broad Market / Factor | Technology |
52-Week High | $101.09 | $28.02 |
52-Week Low | $84.72 | $6.58 |
Market Cap | — | $47.81B |
Enterprise Value | — | $44.93B |
Dividend Yield | — | 2.12% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
IEFA trades at $101.28, up 0.75% today, with a bullish technical outlook from moving averages but overbought RSI signals. The ETF focuses on developed international markets excluding the U.S. and Canada, offering diversification and a dividend yield. Recent news highlights its role in defensive portfolio shifts and comparisons with peers like VXUS and SPGM.
Outlook is positive for diversification seekers amid U.S. concentration risks, supported by lower fees and income appeal. Risks include developed-market economic sensitivity and currency fluctuations. Analyst sentiment is generally favorable for long-term exposure.
UMC trades at $18.79, up 0.37% today, with a bearish technical signal. Recent earnings beats and strong July 2026 sales growth of 18.98% year-over-year highlight operational momentum. The company is expanding capacity in Singapore and Taiwan to meet AI-driven demand, supported by a robust balance sheet with $115.24 billion in cash. However, net income margin has declined from 32.1% in 2022 to 16.99% in 2025, posing a concern.
The outlook is mixed; expansion initiatives and AI tailwinds offer growth potential, but margin compression and a bearish technical stance present risks. Analyst consensus is cautious with 53.33% hold ratings. Key catalysts include Q3 2026 earnings and fab expansion progress, while competitive pressures and macroeconomic volatility remain headwinds.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Founded in 1980, United Microelectronics is the world's third-largest dedicated chip foundry, with 7% market share in 2021, according to Gartner, after TSMC and GlobalFoundries. UMC's headquarters are in Hsinchu, Taiwan, and it operates 12 fabs in Taiwan, Mainland China, Japan and Singapore, with additional sales offices in Europe, the U.S. and South Korea. UMC features a diverse customer base including Texas Instruments, MediaTek, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Xilinx and Realtek, supplying a wide range of products applied in communications, display, memory, automotive and more. UMC employs about 20,000 people.
Read more on UMC →