IXUS vs. IEFA: Which International ETF Is Better for Most Investors?

Buying international exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is an easy way to tap into the growth potential of stock markets beyond America. There's no guarantee that other countries' stock markets will outperform the S&P 500 index. But owning shares in international companies can be a way to protect against a downturn in U.S. tech stocks or hedge against the risk of a weaker U.S. dollar.

Two iShares ETFs offer slightly different approaches to buying global stocks, and one is more diversified than the other. The iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ: IXUS) offers exposure to more than 4,000 global stocks from a wide range of markets, while the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEMKT: IEFA) holds about 2,600 stocks with a focus on developed markets.

In the past year, the more-diversified fund (IXUS) has slightly outperformed the S&P 500, with a total return of 25.8%:

IXUS Total Return Level data by YCharts

Understanding each international ETF's past performance and current holdings can help you decide which fund might be a better fit for your goals. Let's take a closer look.

Image source: Getty Images.

IXUS vs. IEFA: Head-to-head comparison

These two iShares international ETFs have some similarities. Both funds have low fees (expense ratios of 0.07%), and both are well diversified, with thousands of international stocks.

Here's a quick high-level comparison of these two ETFs:

Data source: iShares.

In general, buying a diversified portfolio of stocks is better than putting too many eggs in one basket. That holds true when comparing these two international ETFs. The iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF holds more stocks than the other fund, and it has outperformed year to date and in the past 10 years.

Both of these international ETFs offer strong dividend yields, but the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF has delivered a higher yield (3.3%). Both ETFs are priced more cheaply than the S&P 500 according to their price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios -- the S&P 500 has a P/E ratio of 31.83. Based on that valuation metric, international stocks might have more room to run.

What stocks are in IXUS and IEFA?

The different performance and dividend yields of these two international ETFs can be explained by what types of stocks and sectors are held by each fund. Each of these iShares funds invests in a slightly different mix of stocks, countries, and industries.

Here's a quick breakdown of the top five sector holdings of these two iShares ETFs:

Data source: iShares.

Here's the biggest high-level difference between these two funds: the iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF is more tech-heavy. About 21% its assets are invested in tech stocks, compared with only 11.3% for the other fund.

For example, if you look at the top five stock holdings, you see the iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF is all tech stocks:

Data source: iShares.

The top four holdings in the iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF are all semiconductor stocks. They have performed well during the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, but what if the AI boom turns into a bust? The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF top five holdings include one semiconductor stock (ASML Holding), but the other top holdings are financial (HSBC, a major international bank) and pharmaceutical giants.

Both funds are well-diversified, but one fund has a little more exposure to AI stocks. If you want to diversify your portfolio away from the U.S. tech boom (in case of a future tech downturn), the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF could be a better choice.

Why buy IXUS instead of IEFA?

Both of these iShares funds can be good choices for investors who are internationally minded and want to diversify beyond the U.S. market. They're both low-cost index funds. The iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF ranks among the best international ETFs.

But I believe that diversification is valuable in the long run. If you look at the past 10 years of performance, the more diversified fund, the iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF, has slightly outperformed:

IXUS Total Return Level data by YCharts

This fund owns more than 4,300 stocks across a wide range of countries, including emerging markets such as South Korea and Taiwan. That might make it more volatile in the short run. But as a long-term investor, I'd rather have exposure to the growth potential of the world's up-and-coming economies.

HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Ben Gran has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, AstraZeneca Plc, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tencent. The Motley Fool recommends HSBC Holdings and Roche Holding AG. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.