DFAIvsIEFAETF Comparison
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Dimensional International Core Equity Market ETF (DFAI) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA) belong to the same industry segment: DM Blended Cap. Both ETFs have the same top 3 sector exposures: Finance, Industrials and Technology. DFAI is more expensive with a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.18%, versus 0.07% for IEFA. DFAI is up 10.27% year-to-date (YTD) with +$4.15B in YTD flows. IEFA performs worse with 8.74% YTD performance, and +$14.19B in YTD flows. Run a side-by-side ETF comparison of DFAI and IEFA below, and assess how they stack up in performance, liquidity, risk, exposure, holdings, and more, helping you select the best ETF for your investments.
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DFAI vs IEFA performance and flow charts
Performance
Cumulative Flows
Historic performance and flows
Data as of 10/22/2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | DFAI IEFA | -2.17%-2.24% | -0.41%-0.30% | +10.27%+8.74% | +15.65%+11.90% | +77.14%+70.41% | +57.71%+47.77% |
| Flows | DFAI IEFA | +$411M+$771M | +$959M+$3.74B | +$4.15B+$14.19B | +$4.58B+$17.53B | +$9.76B+$39.48B | +$13.22B+$49.86B |
Volatility and drawdown
| 3M | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatility | DFAI IEFA | +9.87%+12.12% | +12.74%+15.64% | +13.01%+14.83% | +14.83%+16.24% |
| Max drawdown | DFAI IEFA | -5.55%-5.57% | -10.27%-11.37% | -13.45%-13.46% | -27.08%-29.93% |
| Max drawdown duration | DFAI IEFA | 58d59d | 124d103d | 41d40d | 778d840d |
Trading data
DFAI | IEFA | |
Last sale 10/23/2026 at 1:30 PM | $41.21 | $95.68 |
| Previous close 10/22/2026 | $41.41 | $96.15 |
| Consolidated volume 10/22/2026 | ||
| Average volume 30 days | ||
| Average discount or premium 30 days | ||
| Average Bid/Ask spread 30 days |
Replication quality
Data as of September 30, 2026
1-year trailing difference
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DFAI
is actively managed and doesn’t replicate an indexDFAI | IEFA | |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking error | ||
| Tracking difference | ||
| 1 year cumulative return difference | ||
| Best | ||
| Worst | ||
| Daily return difference | ||
| Average | ||
| Worst | ||
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Main metrics
Last update 10/23/2026 at 1:30 PM
Live
Closed
DFAI | IEFA | |
|---|---|---|
| Last price | $41.21 | $95.68 |
| 1D performance | -0.48% | -0.49% |
| AuM | $18.05 B | $188.16 B |
| E/R | 0.18% | 0.07% |
Characteristics
DFAI | IEFA | |
|---|---|---|
| Management strategy | Active | Passive |
| Provider | Dimensional | iShares |
| Benchmark | - | MSCI EAFE IMI Index |
| N° of holdings | 3574 | 2608 |
| Asset class | - | Equities |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | Join | Join |
| Inception date | November 17, 2020 | October 18, 2012 |
| ESG | No | No |
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Exposure
Countries
DFAI
Japan
23.58%
Canada
12.15%
United Kingdom
11.1%
Switzerland
8.08%
Germany
7.31%
Other
37.78%
IEFA
Japan
25.53%
United Kingdom
13.47%
Switzerland
9.03%
Germany
8.08%
France
7.96%
Australia
7.14%
Other
28.78%
Sectors
DFAI
Finance
26.67%
Industrials
15.04%
Technology
10.72%
Non-Energy Materi.
10.36%
Healthcare
7.85%
Consumer Non-Cycl.
7.36%
Other
21.99%
IEFA
Finance
27.1%
Industrials
16.18%
Technology
12.71%
Healthcare
9.12%
Non-Energy Materi.
7.86%
Consumer Non-Cycl.
7.73%
Other
19.29%
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Diversification
DFAI
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
12.4%
IEFA
Total weight of top 15 holdings out of 15
15.64%
Top 15 holdings
Data as of August 31, 2026
DFAI
ASML Holding NV
1.67%
HSBC Holdings Plc
1.11%
Roche Holding AG
1.03%
Shell Plc
0.99%
Royal Bank of Canada
0.94%
Nestlé SA
0.81%
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.
0.77%
AstraZeneca PLC
0.72%
BHP Group Ltd.
0.65%
Novartis AG
0.64%
The Toronto-Dominion Bank
0.63%
Toyota Motor Corp.
0.63%
TotalEnergies SE
0.62%
Allianz SE
0.61%
Siemens AG
0.59%
IEFA
ASML Holding NV
2.51%
HSBC Holdings Plc
1.35%
Roche Holding AG
1.17%
Novartis AG
1.07%
Shell Plc
0.97%
Nestlé SA
0.96%
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.
0.94%
AstraZeneca PLC
0.94%
BHP Group Ltd.
0.93%
Siemens AG
0.92%
SAP SE
0.86%
Banco Santander SA
0.80%
Allianz SE
0.76%
Commonwealth Bank of Australia
0.73%
Schneider Electric SE
0.72%
Frequently asked questions about DFAI and IEFA
How have the DFAI and IEFA ETFs performed in 2026?
As of October 22, 2026, DFAI is up 10.27% year-to-date (YTD), while IEFA has returned 8.74%. That puts DFAI better performer ahead so far this year.
Which ETF is attracting more investor money: DFAI or IEFA?
Year-to-date, the DFAI ETF saw +$4.15B in flows, compared to +$14.19B for IEFA.
Which ETF is more volatile: DFAI or IEFA?
Over the past year, DFAI had a volatility of 12.74%, while IEFA experienced 15.64%.
Which ETF is bigger: DFAI or IEFA?
As of October 22, 2026, DFAI holds $18.05 B in assets under management (AUM), while IEFA manages $188.16 B.
What sectors do the DFAI and IEFA ETFs invest in?
DFAI leans toward sectors like Finance, Industrials and Technology. Meanwhile, IEFA focuses on Finance, Industrials and Technology.
What are the top holdings of the DFAI ETF and IEFA ETF?
DFAI top holdings include ASML Holding NV, HSBC Holdings Plc and Roche Holding AG. IEFA holds in its top three: ASML Holding NV, HSBC Holdings Plc and Roche Holding AG.
Which ETF is more diversified: DFAI or IEFA?
DFAI holds 3640 securities with 12.4% of its assets in the top 15. IEFA has 2627 securities and a top 15 weight of 15.64%.
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Latest news about DFAI & IEFA
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