EFA vs VBR: 2% overlap
iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and Vanguard Small-Cap Value ETF share 1.7% of their portfolios by weight — computed as Σ min(wA, wB) over every holding both funds own.
Different holding dates. These holdings were published 27 days apart — VBR as of 2026-06-30, the rest through 2026-07-27. Each fund is compared using its most recent file, so any trading in between shows up as a difference.
You would hold two tickers and get the diversification of 2.0. Two funds that shared nothing would score 2.0; two identical funds score 1.0.
Top shared holdings
EFA and VBR hold 21 of the same securities. The ten contributing most to the overlap figure:
| Holding | in EFA | in VBR | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAL | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% |
| CFR | 0.6% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| CSL | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.1% |
| TSCO | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| AIR | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| G | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| UCB | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| ACA | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| BG | 0.1% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| EQT | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
Where EFA and VBR differ
Sector weights as a share of each fund, ordered by the size of the gap rather than the size of the sector — two funds that overlap heavily still usually diverge somewhere.
| Sector | EFA | VBR | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate | 1.6% | 9.8% | −8.1pp |
| Financials | 26.2% | 18.3% | +7.8pp |
| Consumer Staples | 7.1% | 4.1% | +3.0pp |
| Consumer Discretionary | 8.4% | 11.4% | −2.9pp |
| Information Technology | 11.5% | 9.4% | +2.1pp |
| Materials | 5.7% | 7.2% | −1.5pp |
| Utilities | 4.4% | 5.2% | −0.8pp |
| Communication Services | 3.1% | 2.4% | +0.7pp |
Δ is EFA minus VBR, in percentage points. Sector data is not published by every issuer, so “Unclassified” is a real category rather than a gap in the table.
What each fund holds alone
96.0% of EFA by weight, held in no part of VBR.
96.0% of VBR by weight, held in no part of EFA.
A large count with a small weight is the usual shape: the positions one fund adds are typically its smallest ones.
Concentration and cost
| EFA | VBR | |
|---|---|---|
| Top 10 holdings | 14.3% | 6.2% |
| Positions held | 678 | 839 |
| Cost per $10,000 held, per year | $33 | $5 |
Cost is the expense ratio applied to $10,000; it excludes any brokerage commission, bid-ask spread or tax consequence. Figures are facts about the funds, not a suggestion about which to hold.
Frequently asked
How much do EFA and VBR overlap?
EFA and VBR overlap 1.7% by portfolio weight — largely distinct portfolios. They share 21 holdings. The figure comes from current issuer holdings files (EFA as of 2026-07-27, VBR as of 2026-06-30).
How is the overlap between EFA and VBR calculated?
As the sum of the smaller weight in each fund, over every holding both funds own: Σ min(wA, wB). If EFA holds a stock at 6% and VBR holds the same stock at 4%, 4% counts as shared. The result is bounded between 0% and 100%, and it is computed after looking through any fund-of-funds to the underlying holdings.
Is it redundant to hold both EFA and VBR?
That depends on your goals — we state facts, not advice. At 1.7% overlap, each fund still contributes meaningfully distinct exposure.
What does EFA own that VBR doesn't?
EFA holds 678 positions and VBR holds 839; 656 of EFA's positions don't appear in VBR at all, and they are 96.0% of EFA by weight.
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Related comparisons
Sources: issuer holdings files, EFA as of 2026-07-27, VBR as of 2026-06-30. Weights are fractions of each fund. Diagnostics, not advice.