Average Daily Volume
1.68M
Fund Overview
The iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (EFG) is designed to track the investment results of an index composed of large- and mid-capitalization developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada, that exhibit growth characteristics. The fund provides exposure to companies in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East (EAFE) that are expected to grow at an above-average rate compared to the broader market. EFG is part of iShares' suite of factor-based ETFs, targeting investors seeking growth-oriented international equity exposure. The fund is diversified across sectors such as technology, healthcare, and consumer discretionary, with holdings in well-known global companies like ASML, LVMH, and Novo Nordisk.
- Asset Class
-
Equity
- Industry
-
N/A
- Annual Dividend Rate
-
- Smart Beta
-
Yes
- Leveraged / Inverse
-
N/A / No
- Dividend Quality - Yield
-
- 1.18 %
- Currency Hedged
-
No
- Portfolio Turnover
-
22 %
- Dividend Date
-
Why Invest in the EFG ETF?
Potential Benefits
- Provides targeted exposure to growth-oriented companies in developed international markets outside the U.S. and Canada.
- Offers diversification benefits by investing across multiple sectors and countries within the EAFE region.
- Lower expense ratio compared to actively managed international growth funds.
- Liquidity and transparency typical of iShares ETFs, with daily trading volume and clear holdings disclosure.
- Potential for capital appreciation from companies with strong earnings growth and innovative business models.
Potential Risks
- Concentration risk in growth stocks, which may underperform during value-driven market cycles.
- Currency fluctuations can impact returns, as the fund holds non-U.S. dollar denominated assets.
- Political and economic risks specific to the EAFE region, including regulatory changes and trade tensions.
- Higher volatility compared to broad market ETFs due to growth stock sensitivity to interest rate changes.
- Sector concentration in technology and consumer discretionary may lead to amplified losses during sector downturns.
RSI data unavailable or insufficient history.
Monthly Returns (%)
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 2026 |
+4.4%
|
+3.4%
|
-9.5%
|
+6.9%
|
+3.6%
|
+1.7%
|
-2.4%
|
+2.4%
|
-3.7%
|
+1.0%
|
-
|
-
|
| 2025 |
+5.1%
|
+1.1%
|
-2.8%
|
+4.4%
|
+5.2%
|
+3.0%
|
-4.0%
|
+3.3%
|
+2.6%
|
+1.6%
|
-1.4%
|
+1.5%
|
| 2024 |
+0.3%
|
+4.6%
|
+2.2%
|
-4.7%
|
+5.0%
|
-0.6%
|
+1.0%
|
+4.0%
|
+0.2%
|
-6.3%
|
+0.3%
|
-3.6%
|
| 2023 |
+9.4%
|
-3.7%
|
+6.2%
|
+2.2%
|
-2.7%
|
+3.4%
|
+1.2%
|
-4.7%
|
-6.2%
|
-2.6%
|
+9.6%
|
+5.8%
|
| 2022 |
-9.5%
|
-3.9%
|
+0.3%
|
-8.3%
|
+0.3%
|
-8.1%
|
+8.2%
|
-7.5%
|
-9.9%
|
+5.0%
|
+14.0%
|
-3.3%
|
| 2021 |
-1.4%
|
-0.1%
|
+1.0%
|
+4.1%
|
+3.3%
|
+0.1%
|
+1.8%
|
+1.9%
|
-4.3%
|
+4.2%
|
-3.2%
|
+3.5%
|
| 2020 |
-1.3%
|
-7.1%
|
-10.3%
|
+6.9%
|
+6.4%
|
+3.4%
|
+4.0%
|
+4.2%
|
-0.2%
|
-4.0%
|
+11.4%
|
+5.3%
|
| 2019 |
+6.2%
|
+3.3%
|
+2.2%
|
+3.5%
|
-4.2%
|
+6.5%
|
-1.1%
|
-0.6%
|
+1.4%
|
+3.3%
|
+1.8%
|
+2.7%
|
| 2018 |
+4.5%
|
-4.6%
|
-0.2%
|
+0.6%
|
+0.1%
|
-1.5%
|
+2.4%
|
-0.6%
|
-0.2%
|
-9.3%
|
+0.7%
|
-5.0%
|
| 2017 |
+3.7%
|
+1.8%
|
+3.4%
|
+3.0%
|
+4.8%
|
-0.2%
|
+2.3%
|
+0.6%
|
+1.7%
|
+2.4%
|
+0.9%
|
+1.5%
|
< -5%
-5% to -2%
-2% to 0%
0%
0% to +2%
+2% to +5%
> +5%
Top Holdings (by weight)
| Symbol |
Company Name |
Weight |
|
SPOT
|
SPOTIFY TECHNOLOGY SA |
1.1 % |
|
CHKP
|
CHECK POINT SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES LTD |
0.2 % |
|
CYBR
|
CYBERARK SOFTWARE LTD |
0.2 % |
|
MNDY
|
MONDAY.COM LTD ORDINARY SHARES |
0.1 % |
|
QGEN
|
QIAGEN NV |
0.1 % |
|
GRAB
|
GRAB HOLDINGS LTD CLASS A |
0.1 % |
|
WIX
|
WIX.COM LTD |
0.1 % |
|
NVMI
|
NOVA LTD |
0.1 % |
|
FUTU
|
FUTU HOLDINGS LTD ADR |
0.1 % |
|
GLBE
|
GLOBAL E ONLINE LTD |
0.0 % |
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 351 total holdings.
Related ETFs: EFG vs Peers
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.
Investment Strategy
EFG tracks the MSCI EAFE Growth Index, which selects and weights constituents based on growth factors including long-term forward earnings growth rate, short-term forward earnings growth rate, current internal growth rate, and long-term historical earnings and sales trends. The index employs a market-cap weighting methodology within its growth selection universe. The fund primarily holds common stocks of companies in developed markets outside North America, with quarterly rebalancing to align with index changes. EFG's portfolio typically shows higher price-to-earnings ratios than value or blend counterparts, reflecting its growth orientation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What countries are included in EFG's portfolio?
EFG invests across developed markets in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East, including countries like Japan, the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Australia, among others.
How often does EFG rebalance its holdings?
EFG rebalances quarterly to align with changes in the underlying MSCI EAFE Growth Index, ensuring the fund maintains its growth characteristics.
Does EFG pay dividends?
Yes, EFG pays dividends typically on a quarterly basis, though dividend yields tend to be lower than value-oriented international ETFs due to its growth focus.
What is EFG's expense ratio?
EFG has an expense ratio of 0.33% as of 2025, which is competitive among actively managed international growth funds but higher than some broad international index ETFs.
How does EFG perform during market downturns?
Growth stocks like those in EFG often experience greater volatility during market downturns compared to value stocks, as their higher valuations may contract more sharply in risk-off environments.
Industry Overview
The iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (EFG) provides exposure to the growth segment of developed international markets, excluding the U.S. and Canada. Investing in international growth stocks allows investors to participate in the expansion of innovative companies outside North America, potentially benefiting from regional economic trends and demographic shifts. The EAFE region encompasses mature economies with established regulatory frameworks, offering a balance between growth potential and relative stability compared to emerging markets. EFG's focus on growth characteristics (such as high earnings growth rates and strong price momentum) makes it particularly relevant for investors seeking to capitalize on technological advancements and consumer trends in Europe, Australasia, and the Far East.
Alternative Comparison
Compared to EFV (iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF), EFG offers a distinct growth-oriented approach to international investing, typically featuring higher-growth but more expensive stocks. While VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) provides broader exposure to developed markets at a lower cost, EFG's targeted growth focus may appeal to investors seeking specific factor exposure. SCHF (Schwab International Equity ETF) has a similar geographic scope but lacks EFG's explicit growth factor tilt, making EFG potentially more suitable for investors wanting to overweight growth characteristics in their international allocation.
Issuer Overview
iShares by BlackRock is the world's largest ETF provider, known for its extensive lineup of index-tracking funds across asset classes and investment strategies. With trillions in assets under management, iShares combines the scale and resources of BlackRock with a focus on ETF innovation, liquidity, and cost efficiency. The issuer's robust risk management framework and global presence contribute to the reliability of ETFs like EFG.
Conclusion
The iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF (EFG) serves as an efficient vehicle for investors seeking targeted exposure to growth companies in developed international markets. While offering potential for higher returns during growth-led market environments, investors should be mindful of the risks associated with growth investing and international exposure. EFG may complement a diversified portfolio as the international growth component, particularly for investors with a long-term horizon who believe in the growth potential of EAFE-region companies.
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