EFAV - ETF AI Analysis
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iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV)
EFAV, the iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF, has a solid overall rating that reflects a portfolio anchored by strong, stable companies like Novartis, DBS Group Holdings, and TotalEnergies, which bring robust profitability, positive earnings sentiment, and reasonable valuations. These strengths are partly offset by holdings such as Shell, Iberdrola, and Zurich Insurance Group, where technical signals point to short-term weakness or overbought conditions, and by some mixed outlooks and high debt or valuation concerns. The main risk factor is the fund’s meaningful exposure to a handful of large international names, so short-term technical or sector-specific issues in these companies can have a noticeable impact on the ETF’s performance.
EFAV vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)
- AUM
- 5.49B
- Region
- Developed Markets
- Expense Ratio
- 0.20%
- Beta
- 0.29
- Issuer
- iShares
- Inception Date
- Oct 18, 2011
- Dividend Yield
- 2.97%
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Index Tracked
- MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility (USD)
EFAV Summary
EFAV is an ETF that follows the MSCI EAFE Minimum Volatility Index, focusing on stocks from developed countries outside North America, such as Japan, the UK, and Europe. It aims to give investors smoother international stock exposure by favoring companies whose share prices tend to move less sharply. The fund holds well-known names like Shell and Novartis, and spreads investments across sectors like industrials, financials, and health care, which can help with diversification and long-term growth. A key risk is that, even with a lower-volatility approach, the value of the ETF can still go up and down with global stock markets.
How much will it cost me?
EFAV has an expense ratio of 0.20%, which means you’ll pay about $2 per year for every $1,000 invested. This cost is slightly higher than the cheapest index ETFs because it uses a specialized, low-volatility strategy rather than a plain-vanilla passive index.
What would affect this ETF?
EFAV could benefit if developed markets outside North America grow steadily and defensive sectors like health care, utilities, and consumer staples stay resilient, helping its low-volatility approach smooth out market ups and downs. On the other hand, sharp economic slowdowns in Europe or Asia, big swings in energy prices affecting holdings like Shell and TotalEnergies, or sudden changes in global interest rates and regulations could hurt performance even though the fund aims to reduce risk.
EFAV Top 10 Holdings
EFAV is leaning on a trio of rising European energy names—Shell, ENI, and TotalEnergies—which have been powering recent returns and giving the fund a steady, defensive backbone. Iberdrola and Swisscom add a utilities and telecom flavor, both climbing but with some signs of fatigue. On the healthcare side, Novartis and Takeda are quietly supportive, rising without much drama. The main drag comes from DBS Group and Secom, which have been more mixed to lagging. Overall, it’s a low-volatility, developed-markets ex-U.S. mix with a noticeable tilt toward European defensives and energy.
| Name | Company Name | Weight % | Market Value | Market Cap | Yearly Gain | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 GB:SHEL | Shell (UK) | 1.70% | $93.46M | GBP 229.30B | 40.01% | 73Outperform |
 JP:4502 | Takeda Pharmaceutical Co | 1.68% | $92.57M | JPY 10.62T | 56.24% | 66Neutral |
 ES:IBE | Iberdrola | 1.55% | $85.31M | EUR 146.27B | 26.31% | 67Neutral |
 IT:ENI | ENI S.p.A. | 1.55% | $85.39M | EUR 79.36B | 70.45% | 63Neutral |
 JP:9735 | Secom Co | 1.50% | $82.59M | JPY 3.02T | 31.88% | 73Outperform |
 FR:TTE | TotalEnergies SE | 1.46% | $80.54M | EUR 190.70B | 59.27% | 78Outperform |
 DBSDF | DBS Group Holdings | ― | ― | ― | ― | 78Outperform |
 CH:NOVN | Novartis AG | 1.41% | $77.69M | CHF 244.89B | 35.30% | 80Outperform |
 CH:SCMN | Swisscom AG | 1.35% | $74.26M | CHF 36.23B | 18.16% | 67Neutral |
EFAV Technical Analysis
Price Trends
Market Momentum
Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in ETF analysis to make informed investment decisions. For EFAV, the sentiment is Positive. The current price of 96.25 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 93.82, above the 50-day MA of 93.60, and above the 200-day MA of 90.79, indicating a bullish trend. The MACD of 0.92 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 65.75 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 64.26 is Neutral, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Positive sentiment for EFAV.
EFAV Peer Comparison
Comparison Results
| Name | Price | Price Target | AUM | Expense Ratio | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFAV | $96.25 | $97.00(0.78% Upside) | $5.49B | 0.20% | 61Neutral |
 DBEF | $54.74 | $66.10(20.75% Upside) | $9.37B | 0.35% | 65Neutral |
 BBIN | $77.57 | $94.18(21.41% Upside) | $6.55B | 0.07% | 66Neutral |
 HFXI | $36.35 | $46.18(27.04% Upside) | $2.45B | 0.20% | 58Neutral |
 IHDG | $51.80 | $63.01(21.65% Upside) | $2.07B | 0.58% | 66Neutral |
 DDWM | $45.74 | $53.41(16.77% Upside) | $1.43B | 0.40% | 64Neutral |
Performance Comparison
| Show on chart | Ticker | Company Name | Price | Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EFAV | iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF | 96.25 | 14.62 | 17.91% | |
| DBEF | Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | 54.74 | 7.89 | 16.83% | |
| BBIN | JPMorgan BetaBuilders International Equity ETF | 77.57 | 9.21 | 13.48% | |
| HFXI | IQ 50 Percent Hedged FTSE International ETF | 36.35 | 5.33 | 17.17% | |
| IHDG | WisdomTree International Hedged Quality Dividend Growth Fund | 51.80 | 5.55 | 12.00% | |
| DDWM | WisdomTree Dynamic Currency Hedged International Equity Fund | 45.73 | 4.77 | 11.63% |
This AI Analyst ETF Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in ETFs carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.