
The MSCI EAFE Index ETF is a popular investment option for those looking to diversify their portfolio with international stocks. It tracks the MSCI EAFE Index, which covers developed markets outside of North America and the Pacific region.
The MSCI EAFE Index includes over 900 stocks from 21 developed countries, giving investors a broad exposure to the region. The index is widely regarded as a benchmark for international stock performance.
Investors can gain access to the MSCI EAFE Index through various ETFs, each with its own unique characteristics and fees. One such ETF is the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF, which offers a low-cost way to invest in the index.
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Investment Details
The MSCI EAFE Index ETF is a popular investment option, but what exactly does it entail? The fund tracks the MSCI EAFE Index, which covers developed markets outside of North America and the Pacific.
It's made up of over 800 stocks from 21 developed countries, including Japan, the UK, and France. The index is designed to provide broad exposure to the region's markets.
With a net expense ratio of 0.34%, the MSCI EAFE Index ETF is a relatively low-cost option for investors. This means you'll get to keep more of your returns, which is always a good thing!
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Investment Objectives
When setting investment objectives, it's essential to consider your financial goals and risk tolerance.
Most investors aim to beat inflation, which is currently around 2.5% in the US.
A common investment objective is to achieve long-term growth, often through a diversified portfolio of stocks and bonds.
A 60/40 stock-to-bond allocation is a popular choice among investors seeking steady returns.
Retirement savings goals often involve investing for a specific target date, such as age 65 or 70.
A 4% withdrawal rate is a common rule of thumb for sustainable retirement income.
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Portfolio Managers
Portfolio managers are responsible for creating and managing investment portfolios for clients, which can include individuals, companies, and institutions. They typically have a deep understanding of the markets and economies.
Their primary goal is to maximize returns while minimizing risk, but they also consider the client's risk tolerance and financial goals. This requires a combination of technical knowledge and soft skills.
Portfolio managers often work with a team of analysts and researchers to stay up-to-date on market trends and make informed investment decisions. They also communicate regularly with clients to understand their needs and update them on portfolio performance.
In some cases, portfolio managers may specialize in specific asset classes, such as equities or fixed income, and may have a strong background in finance or a related field.
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Trading Information
When investing, it's essential to have access to accurate and up-to-date information about the fund you're considering.
The ticker symbol for this fund is {{ ticker }}.
This unique identifier can be used to track the fund's performance and make informed investment decisions.
The CUSIP number for this fund is {{ fundCUSIP }}.
CUSIP stands for Committee on Uniform Securities Identification Procedures, and it's used to identify securities in the United States and Canada.
This fund trades on the {{ fundExchange }} exchange.
Knowing the exchange where the fund trades can help you understand the liquidity and volatility of the investment.
One option for investors is to trade in CAD-Hedged currency.
This means that the fund's performance is adjusted for changes in the Canadian dollar, potentially reducing currency risk for investors.
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ETF Information
The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF is designed to track the performance of developed markets outside of the U.S. and Canada.
This ETF invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its underlying index, which is a free float-adjusted, market capitalization-weighted index.
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The index measures large- and mid-capitalization equity market performance of developed markets outside of the U.S. and Canada.
The fund's investment strategy is focused on tracking the underlying index, rather than trying to beat it.
The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF is a Foreign Large Blend fund, as classified by Morningstar.
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Fees and Holdings
The fees associated with the MSCI EAFE Index ETF are relatively low, with a Gross Expense Ratio of 0.46% and a Net Expense Ratio of 0.46%.
The Net Expense Ratio excluding Investment Related Expenses is even lower, at 0.39%. This is a significant consideration for investors looking to minimize their costs.
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses account for a small portion of the overall fees, at 0.07%.
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Prices
Prices play a significant role in understanding the overall health of a market.
The 52-week high for the market is {{ pricesMarketWeekHigh }}.
Volume is an essential metric to gauge market activity, with a current volume of {{ pricesVolume }}.

The 52-week low for the market is {{ pricesMarketWeekLow }}.
Here's a quick reference table to help you keep track of the market's highs and lows:
The 52-week high for the NAV is {{ pricesNavWeekHigh }}.
The 52-week low for the NAV is {{ pricesNavWeekLow }}.
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Fees
Fees play a significant role in how your investments perform. The management fee for this fund is 0.32%.
The expense ratio is also 0.32%, which includes management fees, acquired fund fees, and other expenses. This amount may not reflect extraordinary expenses incurred by the fund.
You can expect the fund's fees to be relatively low, with no acquired fund fees and expenses, and no other expenses. This is reflected in the 0.00% for both acquired fund fees and expenses and other expenses.
Here's a breakdown of the fund's fees:
The net expense ratio for this fund is also 0.46%, which is the same as the gross expense ratio. This means that the fund's expenses are directly passed on to the investors.
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Holdings

The holdings section of a portfolio can be a fascinating topic. Let's take a look at some specific holdings from the article.
ASML Holding NV holds a market value of 1.52%, making it a significant part of the portfolio. SAP SE is another major holding, with a market value of 1.48%.
The top 10 holdings in the portfolio are dominated by large companies. Novo Nordisk A/S has a market value of 1.38%, while Roche Holding AG has a market value of 1.17%.
Here are the top 10 holdings in the portfolio, listed in order of market value:
Premium/Discount
The Premium/Discount section of the MSCI EAFE Index ETF provides valuable insights into the fund's performance. The total return for the 1-year period is 3.43%, as of December 31, 2024.
The market price return for the same period is 3.51%, indicating a slight outperformance compared to the total return. This difference may be due to the fund's market price movements.
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Here's a breakdown of the fund's performance over different time periods:
The fund's performance is also compared to its benchmark, which has a total return of 3.82% for the 1-year period. The after-tax pre-liquidity return is 2.67% for the 1-year period, while the after-tax post-liquidity return is 2.60%.
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Business Involvement
Business Involvement metrics can help investors gain a more comprehensive view of specific activities in which a fund may be exposed through its investments.
Business Involvement metrics are calculated by BlackRock using data from MSCI ESG Research, which provides a profile of each company's specific business involvement.
These metrics are designed only to identify companies where MSCI has conducted research and identified as having involvement in the covered activity.
This means it's possible there is additional involvement in these covered activities where MSCI does not have coverage.
Business Involvement metrics are only displayed if at least 1% of the fund's gross weight includes securities covered by MSCI ESG Research.
Business Involvement metrics are not indicative of a fund's investment objective, and they do not change a fund's investment objective or constrain the fund's investable universe.
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ESG and Carbon Footprint
The MSCI ESG Quality Score for funds is calculated using the weighted average of the ESG scores of fund holdings, considering ESG Rating trend of holdings and the fund's exposure to holdings in the laggard category.
This score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating better ESG management. MSCI rates underlying holdings according to their exposure to industry-specific ESG risks and their ability to manage those risks relative to peers.
The MSCI Weighted Average Carbon Intensity measures a fund's exposure to carbon-intensive companies, representing the estimated greenhouse gas emissions per $1 million in sales across the fund's holdings. This allows for comparisons between funds of different sizes.
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ESG Score
The ESG Score is a crucial metric to understand a fund's environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.
It's calculated using the weighted average of the ESG scores of fund holdings, considering ESG Rating trends and fund exposure to holdings in the laggard category.
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The MSCI ESG Quality Score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating better ESG performance. This score helps investors evaluate a fund's ESG risks and opportunities.
For example, a fund with a high ESG Quality Score may have a lower exposure to carbon-intensive companies. The MSCI Weighted Average Carbon Intensity metric measures a fund's exposure to carbon-intensive companies, representing estimated greenhouse gas emissions per $1 million in sales across the fund's holdings.
Historical data are provided for the last 12 months to the extent available, allowing for comparisons between funds of different sizes.
Business Involvement Coverage
Business Involvement Coverage is a metric that shows the percentage of a fund's holdings that have MSCI business involvement data. This information is only displayed if at least 1% of the fund's gross weight includes securities covered by MSCI ESG Research.
For further details regarding MSCI's methodology, you can check the footnote 3 at the bottom of the page.
Returns and Distributions

The MSCI EAFE Index ETF is a popular investment option for those looking to diversify their portfolio with international stocks. The fund's returns have been quite impressive over the years.
The MSCI EAFE Index ETF has a total return of 2.99% for the year ending December 31, 2024. This is slightly lower than the benchmark's return of 3.55% for the same period.
The fund's performance can be broken down into different time periods. For the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year periods, the total return is 2.99%, 0.74%, and 4.11%, respectively. These returns are calculated on an annualized basis.
Here's a summary of the fund's total returns for different time periods:
The fund's performance is also affected by the sales charge, which is deducted from the total return. For the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year periods, the return with sales charge is -0.10%, -0.28%, and 3.48%, respectively.
It's worth noting that the fund's performance is shown after deduction of ongoing charges, and any entry and exit charges are excluded from the calculation.
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Portfolio Analysis
The MSCI EAFE Index ETF offers a unique investment opportunity for those looking to diversify their portfolio with international stocks.
The MSCI EAFE Index is a widely followed benchmark that tracks the performance of developed markets outside of the US and Canada, which is why it's a key component of the ETF.
This index is comprised of over 800 large- and mid-cap stocks from 21 developed markets in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East.
These stocks are selected based on their liquidity, market capitalization, and other factors to ensure a representative sample of the region's equity markets.
The MSCI EAFE Index has a long history of providing stable returns, with an average annual return of around 7% since its inception in 1970.
This return is significantly higher than the S&P 500, which has averaged around 4% since 1970, making it an attractive option for investors looking to boost their portfolio's returns.
The ETF's expense ratio is 0.34%, which is relatively low compared to other international ETFs, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious investors.
This low expense ratio is a key factor in the ETF's ability to provide competitive returns, especially when combined with its efficient trading and low turnover.
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ESG Peer Comparison
The MSCI EAFE Index ETF is a great option for investors looking to diversify their portfolio with international exposure. The fund's ESG performance is a key consideration for many investors.
The MSCI ESG Quality Score - Peer Percentile indicates how the fund's ESG performance compares to its Lipper peer group. This score is a valuable metric for investors seeking to gauge the fund's ESG credentials.
The MSCI EAFE Index ETF's ESG percentile is a strong indicator of its ability to manage environmental, social, and governance risks. By investing in this fund, you're supporting companies that prioritize ESG considerations.
iShares ETF
The iShares ETF is a type of investment vehicle that tracks the MSCI EAFE Index. It's a popular choice among investors looking to diversify their portfolios with international stocks.
The fund invests at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its underlying index. This means that the majority of the fund's holdings are directly tied to the performance of the MSCI EAFE Index.
The iShares ETF is a free float-adjusted, market capitalization-weighted index, which is designed to measure large- and mid-capitalization equity market performance of developed markets outside of the U.S. and Canada. This makes it a great option for investors looking to gain exposure to international markets.
The fund's underlying index is designed to track the performance of developed markets outside of the U.S. and Canada, which can provide a hedge against market volatility.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What ETF tracks the MSCI EAFE Index?
The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF tracks the MSCI EAFE Index, which covers developed markets outside the US and Canada. This ETF provides exposure to large- and mid-cap stocks in international markets.
What does MSCI EAFE Index mean?
The MSCI EAFE Index measures the performance of developed markets outside the U.S. and Canada, covering Europe, Australasia, and the Far East. It's a key benchmark for investors tracking international stock market trends.
What is the largest EAFE ETF?
The largest MSCI EAFE Index ETF is the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF EFA, with over $52.66 billion in assets. This ETF is a popular choice for investors seeking exposure to international developed markets.
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