IEFA Stock Recent News

For investors in the United States, it's pretty easy to get overexposed to domestic stocks. These are the brands that you're most used to and the companies that you see every day.

Core U.S. equity and U.S. fixed income ETFs were up 2%-3% year-to-date through mid-June. Such modest performance has led many advisors to look for diversification benefits through other investments.

On this week's episode of ETF Prime, host Nate Geraci and Roxanna Islam, head of sector & industry research at VettaFi, break down the year's top-performing ETFs, highlighting many International ETFs. Later, Alexandra Levis, founder & CEO of Arro Financial Communications, details marketing approaches for ETF issuers.

If you want to make money on popular ETFs this year, there's one key strategy — avoid the S&P 500.

On this week's episode of ETF Prime, VettaFi Senior Research Analyst Zeno Mercer joins host Nate Geraci to discuss gold as well as international equity ETFs. Later, Kristin Myers, editor-in-chief at etf.com, previews the 2025 industry awards ceremony.

The Investment Committee give you their top stocks to watch for the second half.

ETFs had a standout year in 2024, seeing over $1 trillion in flows for the first year in history. Total ETF assets under management grew to an impressive $10.4 trillion by year end thanks to strong flows and price appreciation.

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF offers diversified exposure to developed markets outside the U.S., with a low expense ratio of 0.07% and 2,704 holdings. IEFA's sector and geographical diversification, with significant holdings in Japan, the U.K., and France, supports a balanced risk profile and potential for stable returns. Despite its diversification, IEFA's performance may not consistently outpace the S&P 500, especially during U.S. market downturns due to its implicit short-USD hedge.

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has high exposure to European stocks. IEFA rebounded in 2022, but still underperformed the S&P 500 index in the long run. The fund's limited exposure to information technology sector relative to the S&P 500 index may drag its future performance.

iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF offers diversification and potential growth through investing in stocks from Europe, Australasia, and Far East regions. EAFE stocks provide access to world-class companies in sectors underrepresented in the U.S. and have higher dividend yields. IEFA offers a balanced portfolio with low expense ratio, making it a cost-effective option for diversified exposure to developed markets outside North America.