EFA vs XLK
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF vs State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF
Last updated: 2026-04-02
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (EFA) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to equities in developed international markets outside the U.S.. It charges an above-average expense ratio of 0.32%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 3.29%. Launched in 2001, the fund has a 25-year track record.
State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) is an exchange-traded fund that provides exposure to us sector - technology securities. It charges a low expense ratio of 0.08%. The fund offers a modest dividend yield of 0.57%. Launched in 1998, the fund has a 28-year track record.
Quick Verdict
XLK is significantly cheaper at 0.08% vs 0.32% expense ratio, saving you approximately $472 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, XLK has significantly outperformed with a 29.7% return vs 20.5%. Income investors may prefer EFA for its higher yield (3.3% vs 0.6%).
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
0 of top 10 holdings overlap (0% overlap in top holdings)
EFA Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V.!ams/ASML | 2.54% |
| AstraZeneca PLC!lon/AZN | 1.46% |
| Novartis AG!swx/NOVN | 1.41% |
| Roche Holding AG!swx/ROP | 1.36% |
| HSBC Holdings plc!lon/HSBA | 1.36% |
| Shell plc!lon/SHEL | 1.31% |
| Nestlé S.A.!swx/NESN | 1.22% |
| Toyota Motor Corporation!tyo/7203 | 1.00% |
| Commonwealth Bank of Australia!asx/CBA | 0.99% |
| Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.!tyo/8306 | 0.95% |
XLK Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA CorporationNVDA | 15.50% |
| Apple Inc.AAPL | 13.63% |
| Microsoft CorporationMSFT | 10.05% |
| Broadcom Inc.AVGO | 5.37% |
| Micron Technology, Inc.MU | 3.39% |
| Palantir Technologies Inc.PLTR | 2.98% |
| Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.AMD | 2.95% |
| Cisco Systems, Inc.CSCO | 2.73% |
| Applied Materials, Inc.AMAT | 2.42% |
| Lam Research CorporationLRCX | 2.38% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose XLK if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose XLK if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.
Choose EFA if...
you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.