A side-by-side comparison of iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF (AAXJ) and iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF (XEF-U) to help Canadian investors make an informed decision.
1-Year Performance
Normalised to 100 at the start — shows relative return over the trailing 12 months.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Metric | AAXJ | XEF-U |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | -8.43% | +7.48%✓ |
| 1-Day Change | -1.22% | +0.96%✓ |
| 1-Week Change | +2.96%✓ | +1.08% |
| 1-Month Change | -6.38% | 0.00%✓ |
| Current Price | $109.01 | $36.62 |
| AUM | $3.70B | $6.19B✓ |
| MER (Expense Ratio) | 0.69% | — |
| Dividend Yield | 1.30% | 3.63%✓ |
| Distribution Frequency | NA | — |
| Inception Date | 2008-08-13 | — |
| Holdings Count | 945 | 10 |
| MorningStar Rating | — | — |
| Category | Unclassified | Unclassified |
| Beta | 1.02 | 0.00 |
| 52-Week High | $124.89 | $38.40 |
| 52-Week Low | $86.59 | $31.03 |
| 50-Day MA | $115.01 | $37.01 |
| 200-Day MA | $110.04 | $36.34 |
✓ marks the better value for return/yield/AUM metrics. Lower ✓ for MER.
Annualised Returns
| Period | AAXJ | XEF-U |
|---|---|---|
| YTD | -8.43% | +7.48%✓ |
| 1 Year | +15.01% | — |
| 3 Year | +23.35% | — |
| 5 Year | +6.74% | — |
| 10 Year | +8.03% | — |
| 1Y Volatility | 23.36% | — |
| Sharpe Ratio (3Y) | 1.19 | — |
Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
Top 10 Holdings
| 1 | 2330 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. | 18.12% |
| 2 | 005930 | Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 7.92% |
| 3 | 000660 | SK Hynix Inc | 5.67% |
| 4 | 0700 | Tencent Holdings Ltd | 2.82% |
| 5 | 9988 | Alibaba Group Holding Ltd | 2.01% |
| 6 | 2454 | MediaTek Inc | 1.77% |
| 7 | D05 | DBS Group Holdings Ltd | 1.24% |
| 8 | 0939 | China Construction Bank Corp | 1.09% |
| 9 | 005935 | Samsung Electronics Co Pref | 1.05% |
| 10 | 1299 | AIA Group Ltd | 0.93% |
| 1 | ASML | ASML Holding N.V. | 2.64% |
| 2 | IEFA | iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 2.21% |
| 3 | HSBA | HSBC Holdings PLC | 1.37% |
| 4 | ROP | Roche Holding AG | 1.15% |
| 5 | SHEL | Shell plc | 1.10% |
| 6 | NOVN | Novartis AG | 1.05% |
| 7 | 8306 | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 0.95% |
| 8 | AZN | AstraZeneca PLC | 0.94% |
| 9 | NESN | Nestle S.A. | 0.92% |
| 10 | SIE | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | 0.90% |
Sector Weights
| Sector | AAXJ | XEF-U |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Materials | 3.26% | — |
| Communication Services | 5.95% | — |
| Consumer Cyclicals | 8.22% | — |
| Consumer Defensive | 1.98% | — |
| Energy | 2.28% | — |
| Financial Services | 19.06% | — |
| Healthcare | 3.05% | — |
| Industrials | 6.54% | — |
| Real Estate | 1.43% | — |
| Technology | 45.30% | — |
| Utilities | 1.63% | — |
About AAXJ
The fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of the index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of the index. The index is a free float-adjusted market capitalization weighted index designed to measure equity market performance of securities from the following 10 developed and emerging market countries or regions: China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, So…
About XEF-U
NA
Which ETF is Right for You?
Both AAXJ and XEF-U are listed on Canadian exchanges and accessible through most Canadian brokerages including Questrade, Wealthsimple Trade, TD Direct, and Interactive Brokers.
Based on the available data, XEF-U scores higher across our tracked metrics including YTD performance, dividend yield, and AUM — though both ETFs warrant individual research before investing.
- Consider your account type (TFSA, RRSP, non-registered) as it can affect dividend taxation.
- Compare management expense ratios (MER) directly on each provider's website.
- Look at average daily trading volume to assess liquidity.
- Review the fund's underlying index and holdings to ensure the exposure matches your goals.
This is not financial advice. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between AAXJ and XEF-U?
AAXJ (iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF) and XEF-U (iShares Core MSCI EAFE IMI Index ETF) are both Canadian-listed ETFs. Key differences include their AUM ($3.70B vs $6.19B), dividend yield (1.30% vs 3.63%), and year-to-date performance (-8.43% vs +7.48%).
Is AAXJ better than XEF-U?
There is no single "better" ETF — it depends on your investment goals. If you prioritise dividends, compare both yields and choose based on your income needs. Always review the fund's prospectus and consider your tax situation.
Can I buy AAXJ and XEF-U on Wealthsimple?
Most Canadian-listed ETFs are available on Wealthsimple Trade commission-free. Both AAXJ and XEF-U should be accessible. Check Wealthsimple's supported tickers list to confirm availability.
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