Better International ETF: the iShares IEFA vs. State Street's SPDW
SPDW's ultra-low 0.03% expense ratio and 28.7% one-year return challenge IEFA's $196 billion scale and 3.3% yield.
Overview
The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEMKT:IEFA) provides massive liquidity and a slightly higher yield, while the State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (NYSEMKT:SPDW) offers a lower expense ratio and stronger one-year performance.
Both IEFA and SPDW offer broad exposure to developed markets outside the United States. While the iShares fund is an industry titan with nearly $200 billion in assets, the State Street offering competes as an ultra-low-cost alternative for investors seeking efficient international diversification.
Details
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-year return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.
Source
Originally published at www.fool.com.