Which International ETF Is the Better Buy: iShares’ Developed Market IEFA or Emerging Markets EEM?
The fee gap between these two funds is one of the widest in the ETF market. Whether EEM’s growth potential is worth it is the real question.
Investors often find themselves choosing between two iShares ETFs when seeking international diversification: the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) and the iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF (EEM). IEFA provides low-cost, diversified exposure to developed markets such as Europe and Japan, while EEM targets high-growth developing economies with higher fees and increased risk.
IEFA boasts a significantly lower expense ratio of 0.07%, compared to EEM's 0.72%. This fee gap compounds over time, with a decade of holding leading to a drag on returns that EEM would need to overcome to break even against IEFA. IEFA also offers a stronger dividend yield, currently outperforming EEM by 1.77 percentage points.
IEFA holds 2,624 stocks, offering broad coverage of developed markets outside North America, with top holdings including Asml Holding, HSBC Holdings, and Roche. The fund, launched in 2012, pays $3.29 per share annually, or 3.4% yield on its recent $96.52 share price.
EEM, on the other hand, manages a smaller portfolio of 1,187 positions focused on developing nations like China, India, and Brazil. With a tilt towards information technology, financials, and consumer discretionary sectors, its top holdings are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Samsung Electronics Ltd, and SK Hynix. Launched in 2003, EEM pays $1.11 per share annually, or 1.6% yield on its recent $66.80 share price.
In conclusion, while EEM may offer higher growth potential, IEFA's lower fees, stronger income, and broader exposure make it the more practical choice for most investors seeking international diversification.
Written by urgent.news from Motley Fool's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
