EFA vs ILOW
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF vs AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF
Which is better, EFA or ILOW?
Nearly the same fund. EFA costs less.
EFA has a lower expense ratio. EFA led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. EFA is less concentrated, with 14.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 21.0%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | EFA | ILOW |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.32%Best | 0.50% |
| AUM | $76.7B | $1.8B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.24% | 1.49% |
| Holdings | 682 | 102 |
| YTD Return | +7.56%Best | +6.00% |
| 1Y Return | +13.78%Best | +8.93% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.91% | - |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.68% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.4% | 10.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.1% | -10.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.2 years | $13,465Best | $13,279 |
| Top 10 Weight | 14.1%Best | 21.0% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | AllianceBernstein L.P. |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 14, 2001 | Jul 15, 2024 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 15, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.2 years).
EFA vs ILOW growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 2.2 years both funds cover.
EFA vs ILOW Performance
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF (ILOW) is an ETF from AllianceBernstein L.P.. Over the past year EFA returned +13.78% while ILOW returned +8.93%. Year to date, EFA is up 7.56% versus a gain of 6.00% for ILOW.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EFA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.4% compared with 10.2% for ILOW. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -14.1% for EFA and -10.4% for ILOW. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EFA charges 0.32% per year while ILOW charges 0.50%. On a $10,000 position that is $32 vs $50 annually, a gap of $18 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EFA currently yields 3.24% against 1.49% for ILOW.
Holdings Overlap
17.3% of EFA's money is in holdings ILOW also owns. 56.1% of ILOW's money is in holdings EFA also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
45 positions in common, counted across the 655 positions we hold weights for in EFA and 85 in ILOW, against full books of 682 and 102.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1 positions for ILOW that do not appear in our book for EFA (2.7% of the fund), and 12 for EFA that do not appear in ILOW (2.6%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EFA | Weight in ILOW | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML:ASASML HOLDING NV | 3.27% | 3.12% | 0.15% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag Ordinary Shares | 1.22% | 1.71% | 0.49% |
| SHELShell Plc | 1.28% | 1.61% | 0.33% |
| O39:SIOversea-Chinese Banking Corp. Ltd. Shs | 0.38% | 2.15% | 1.77% |
| AZN:LNAstraZeneca PLC | 1.12% | 1.37% | 0.25% |
| 8316:JPSumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc. Shs | 0.73% | 1.60% | 0.87% |
| UCG:MIUnicredit Spa | 0.57% | 1.62% | 1.05% |
| BAES:LNBae Systems Plc | 0.35% | 1.80% | 1.45% |
| KBC:BRKbc Group Nv | 0.15% | 1.93% | 1.78% |
| SAF:PASafran Sa | 0.60% | 1.45% | 0.85% |
56.1% of ILOW is already inside EFA.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, EFA or ILOW?
EFA has an expense ratio of 0.32% while ILOW charges 0.50%. EFA is the cheaper option, by $18 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EFA or ILOW?
Over the past year EFA returned +13.78% vs +8.93% for ILOW, so EFA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), EFA annualized +14.48% vs +13.76% for ILOW. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EFA or ILOW?
EFA has been the more volatile fund at 11.4% annualized versus 10.2% for ILOW. Worst drawdown: EFA -14.1% vs ILOW -10.4%.
Should I hold both EFA and ILOW?
EFA and ILOW have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between EFA and ILOW?
56.1% of ILOW's money is in holdings EFA also owns. 56.1% of ILOW's is in holdings EFA also owns. They hold 45 positions in common, counted across the 655 positions we hold weights for in EFA and 85 in ILOW.
Which pays a higher dividend, EFA or ILOW?
EFA yields 3.24% while ILOW yields 1.49%, so EFA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ILOW better than EFA?
EFA has a lower expense ratio. EFA led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. EFA is less concentrated, with 14.1% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 21.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.