The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) and the SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust (MDY) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. EFA is a iShares Foreign Large Blend fund and MDY is a SPDR State Street Global Advisors Mid-Cap Blend fund. So, what’s the difference between EFA and MDY? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of EFA is 0.09 percentage points higher than MDY’s (0.32% vs. 0.23%). EFA also has a higher exposure to the financial services sector and a lower standard deviation. Overall, EFA has provided lower returns than MDY over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare EFA vs. MDY. We’ll look at industry exposure and risk metrics, as well as at their performance and holdings. Moreover, I’ll also discuss EFA’s and MDY’s annual returns, portfolio growth, and fund composition and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| EFA | MDY | |
| Name | iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust |
| Category | Foreign Large Blend | Mid-Cap Blend |
| Issuer | iShares | SPDR State Street Global Advisors |
| AUM | 56.77B | 21.31B |
| Avg. Return | 6.47% | 13.29% |
| Div. Yield | 2.28% | 0.94% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.32% | 0.23% |
The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) is a Foreign Large Blend fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 56.77B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 6.47% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 2.28% with an expense ratio of 0.32%.
The SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust (MDY) is a Mid-Cap Blend fund that is issued by SPDR State Street Global Advisors. It currently has 21.31B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 13.29% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 0.94% with an expense ratio of 0.23%.
EFA’s dividend yield is 1.34% higher than that of MDY (2.28% vs. 0.94%). Also, EFA yielded on average 6.82% less per year over the past decade (6.47% vs. 13.29%). The expense ratio of EFA is 0.09 percentage points higher than MDY’s (0.32% vs. 0.23%).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| EFA | MDY | |
| Technology | 9.68% | 14.74% |
| Industrials | 15.01% | 17.88% |
| Energy | 3.51% | 2.52% |
| Communication Services | 5.68% | 1.63% |
| Utilities | 3.35% | 2.84% |
| Healthcare | 12.8% | 11.17% |
| Consumer Defensive | 10.56% | 4.2% |
| Real Estate | 3.01% | 9.66% |
| Financial Services | 16.88% | 15.2% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 11.62% | 14.89% |
| Basic Materials | 7.91% | 5.27% |
The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) has the most exposure to the Financial Services sector at 16.88%. This is followed by Industrials and Healthcare at 15.01% and 12.8% respectively. Utilities (3.35%), Energy (3.51%), and Communication Services (5.68%) only make up 12.54% of the fund’s total assets.
EFA’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Basic Materials, Technology, Consumer Defensive, Consumer Cyclical, and Healthcare stocks at 7.91%, 9.68%, 10.56%, 11.62%, and 12.8%.
The SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust (MDY) has the most exposure to the Industrials sector at 17.88%. This is followed by Financial Services and Consumer Cyclical at 15.2% and 14.89% respectively. Energy (2.52%), Utilities (2.84%), and Consumer Defensive (4.2%) only make up 9.56% of the fund’s total assets.
MDY’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Basic Materials, Real Estate, Healthcare, Technology, and Consumer Cyclical stocks at 5.27%, 9.66%, 11.17%, 14.74%, and 14.89%.
EFA is 1.68% more exposed to the Financial Services sector than MDY (16.88% vs 15.2%). EFA’s exposure to Industrials and Healthcare stocks is 2.87% lower and 1.63% higher respectively (15.01% vs. 17.88% and 12.8% vs. 11.17%). In total, Utilities, Energy, and Communication Services also make up 5.55% more of the fund’s holdings compared to MDY (12.54% vs. 6.99%).
Holdings
| EFA Holdings | Weight |
| Nestle SA | 2.11% |
| ASML Holding NV | 1.69% |
| Roche Holding AG | 1.55% |
| LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE | 1.28% |
| Novartis AG | 1.19% |
| Toyota Motor Corp | 1.09% |
| AstraZeneca PLC | 0.92% |
| Unilever PLC | 0.9% |
| AIA Group Ltd | 0.88% |
| SAP SE | 0.86% |
EFA’s Top Holdings are Nestle SA, ASML Holding NV, Roche Holding AG, LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, and Novartis AG at 2.11%, 1.69%, 1.55%, 1.28%, and 1.19%.
Toyota Motor Corp (1.09%), AstraZeneca PLC (0.92%), and Unilever PLC (0.9%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. AIA Group Ltd and SAP SE are also represented in the EFA’s holdings at 0.88% and 0.86%.
| MDY Holdings | Weight |
| Bio-Techne Corp | 0.75% |
| Molina Healthcare Inc | 0.63% |
| Cognex Corp | 0.63% |
| Fair Isaac Corp | 0.62% |
| XPO Logistics Inc | 0.61% |
| SolarEdge Technologies Inc | 0.61% |
| Signature Bank | 0.6% |
| Graco Inc | 0.55% |
| Camden Property Trust | 0.55% |
| FactSet Research Systems Inc | 0.54% |
MDY’s Top Holdings are Bio-Techne Corp, Molina Healthcare Inc, Cognex Corp, Fair Isaac Corp, and XPO Logistics Inc at 0.75%, 0.63%, 0.63%, 0.62%, and 0.61%.
SolarEdge Technologies Inc (0.61%), Signature Bank (0.6%), and Graco Inc (0.55%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Camden Property Trust and FactSet Research Systems Inc are also represented in the MDY’s holdings at 0.55% and 0.54%.
Risk Analysis
| EFA | MDY | |
| Mean Return | 0.57 | 1.08 |
| R-squared | 96.78 | 86.66 |
| Std. Deviation | 15.01 | 16.83 |
| Alpha | 0.47 | -4.1 |
| Beta | 0.98 | 1.15 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.41 | 0.73 |
| Treynor Ratio | 5.33 | 9.97 |
The iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) has a R-squared of 96.78 with a Alpha of 0.47 and a Standard Deviation of 15.01. Its Treynor Ratio is 5.33 while EFA’s Beta is 0.98. Furthermore, the fund has a Sharpe Ratio of 0.41 and a Mean Return of 0.57.
The SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust (MDY) has a Beta of 1.15 with a Alpha of -4.1 and a R-squared of 86.66. Its Mean Return is 1.08 while MDY’s Standard Deviation is 16.83. Furthermore, the fund has a Treynor Ratio of 9.97 and a Sharpe Ratio of 0.73.
EFA’s Mean Return is 0.51 points lower than that of MDY and its R-squared is 10.12 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 15.01, EFA is slightly less volatile than MDY. The Alpha and Beta of EFA are 4.57 points higher and 0.17 points lower than MDY’s Alpha and Beta.
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | EFA | MDY |
| 2020 | 7.92% | 13.51% |
| 2019 | 21.94% | 25.86% |
| 2018 | -13.83% | -11.28% |
| 2017 | 24.94% | 15.89% |
| 2016 | 0.96% | 20.33% |
| 2015 | -0.9% | -2.4% |
| 2014 | -5.04% | 9.42% |
| 2013 | 22.62% | 33.08% |
| 2012 | 17.22% | 17.58% |
| 2011 | -12.18% | -1.99% |
| 2010 | 7.52% | 26.17% |
EFA had its best year in 2017 with an annual return of 24.94%. EFA’s worst year over the past decade yielded -13.83% and occurred in 2018. In most years the iShares MSCI EAFE ETF provided moderate returns such as in 2016, 2010, and 2020 where annual returns amounted to 0.96%, 7.52%, and 7.92% respectively.
The year 2013 was the strongest year for MDY, returning 33.08% on an annual basis. The poorest year for MDY in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -11.28%. Most years the SPDR S&P MIDCAP 400 ETF Trust has given investors modest returns, such as in 2020, 2017, and 2012, when gains were 13.51%, 15.89%, and 17.58% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| EFA | $10,000 | $18,269 | 6.47% |
| MDY | $10,000 | $36,524 | 13.29% |
A $10,000 investment in EFA would have resulted in a final balance of $18,269. This is a profit of $8,269 over 11 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.47%.
With a $10,000 investment in MDY, the end total would have been $36,524. This equates to a $26,524 profit over 11 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.29%.
EFA’s CAGR is 6.82 percentage points lower than that of MDY and as a result, would have yielded $18,255 less on a $10,000 investment. Thus, EFA performed worse than MDY by 6.82% annually.
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