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iShares Core MSCI All Country World ex Canada Index ETF (XAW) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF) offer distinct profiles for Canadian ETF investors. A direct comparison shows that XAW focuses its top 3 sector exposures on Technology, Finance, and Industrials, while XEF leans towards Finance, Industrials, and Technology. When evaluating costs, XAW features a management fee (MER) of 0.2%, compared to 0.2% for XEF. Performance-wise, XAW has returned 15.66% year-to-date with +$449 M in net flows, whereas XEF is at 14.42% with +$5 B. Use the comparison tool below to benchmark these funds across top 10 holdings, yield, sector weights and historical returns.
NAV Performance and Flows
Key Data
Compare
XAW
XEF
| AuM | $4,617.17 M | $24,038.14 M |
| Management Fees | 0.20% | 0.20% |
| Exp. ratio | 0.22% | 0.22% |
| Tracking Difference | -0.23% | -0.14% |
Historical performance and flows
As of September 17, 2026
| 1M | 3M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perf. | XAW | -0.90% | +1.44% | +15.66% | +19.79% | +78.03% |
XEF | -1.34% | +0.77% | +14.42% | +19.17% | +69.99% | |
| Flows | XAW | +$79 M | +$234 M | +$449 M | +$702 M | +$1,038 M |
XEF | +$714 M | +$1,906 M | +$5,249 M | +$6,986 M | +$12,015 M |
XAW vs XEF exposure
Countries
XAW
USA
62.99%
Other
37.01%
XEF
Japan
24.79%
United Kingdom
13.81%
Switzerland
9.26%
France
8.14%
Germany
8.12%
Australia
7.05%
Other
28.83%
Sectors
XAW
Technology
34.50%
Finance
18.74%
Industrials
10.13%
Healthcare
8.51%
Consumer Non-Cyclicals
8.22%
Other
19.89%
XEF
Finance
27.43%
Industrials
16.38%
Technology
11.80%
Healthcare
9.36%
Consumer Non-Cyclicals
8.07%
Non-Energy Materials
7.48%
Other
19.48%
As of September 17, 2026
Top 10 Holdings
XAW
Apple, Inc.
4.46%
NVIDIA Corp.
4.30%
Microsoft Corp.
3.05%
Amazon.com, Inc.
2.10%
Alphabet, Inc.
1.78%
Broadcom Inc.
1.67%
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
1.62%
Alphabet, Inc.
1.44%
Meta Platforms, Inc.
1.08%
Micron Technology, Inc.
0.90%
XEF
ASML Holding NV
2.51%
HSBC Holdings Plc
1.43%
Roche Holding AG
1.20%
Novartis AG
1.12%
Nestlé SA
1.02%
AstraZeneca PLC
1.01%
Shell Plc
0.98%
Siemens AG
0.94%
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc.
0.92%
BHP Group Ltd.
0.82%
Diversification
XAW
Total weight of top 10 holdings out of 8,085 total
22.39%
XEF
Total weight of top 10 holdings out of 2,648 total
11.94%
Characteristics
Compare
XAW
XEF
| Provider | iShares | iShares |
| Management | Passively managed | Passively managed |
| Benchmark | MSCI ACWI ex Canada IMI Net Total Return Index - CAD | MSCI EAFE IMI Net Total Return Index - CAD |
| Replication Method | Direct (Physical) | |
| Asset Class | Equity | Equity |
| Dividend Policy | Distributing | Distributing |
| Trailing 12m distribution yield | 1.20% | 2.32% |
| Meets ESG criteria | No | No |
| Inception Date | February 10, 2015 | April 10, 2013 |
Frequently asked questions about XAW and XEF
Which ETF has performed better year to date: XAW or XEF?
As of September 17, 2026, XAW has returned 15.66% year to date, while XEF has returned 14.42%. XAW is ahead on YTD performance.
Which ETF is larger by assets under management: XAW or XEF?
As of September 17, 2026, XAW manages $4.62 B in assets, while XEF manages $24.04 B. XEF is the larger fund by AUM.
How are XAW and XEF managed?
XAW is passively managed by iShares. It tracks the MSCI ACWI ex Canada IMI Net Total Return Index - CAD benchmark. XEF is passively managed by iShares. It tracks the MSCI EAFE IMI Net Total Return Index - CAD benchmark.
What sectors do XAW and XEF emphasize?
XAW is most exposed to Technology, Finance, and Industrials. XEF is most exposed to Finance, Industrials, and Technology.
Which ETF is attracting more investor flows: XAW or XEF?
Year to date, XAW has seen +$449.06 M in net flows, compared with +$5,249.25 M for XEF. XEF has attracted more net investor money so far.
How do the fees of XAW and XEF compare?
XAW has an expense ratio of 0.22%, while XEF has an expense ratio of 0.22%.
What are the top holdings of XAW and XEF?
XAW's largest holdings include Apple, Inc., NVIDIA Corp., and Alphabet, Inc.. XEF's top holdings include ASML Holding NV, HSBC Holdings Plc, and Roche Holding AG.
Which ETF is more diversified: XAW or XEF?
XAW holds 7986 securities, while XEF holds 2636. On holdings count, XAW is the more diversified portfolio.
Recent articles about XAW and XEF
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