TOP 3 Markets:

1. Japan: 25%
2. United Kingdom: 15%
3. France: 12%

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) invests in companies from developed markets outside the USA and Canada. The ETF's revenues come from a variety of industries, with typical focuses on the financial, healthcare, industrial, and consumer goods sectors.

Japan is the largest market for the ETF, reflecting the strong presence of Japanese companies in the included industries. The United Kingdom and France follow, with both countries making significant contributions in the financial services and consumer goods sectors.

iShares Trust - iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV)

iShares Trust is not a company that produces physical products. It is a provider of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) managed by BlackRock. The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF is a financial product that invests in stocks of companies included in the MSCI EAFE Index. This index includes stocks from developed markets outside of North America, particularly from Europe, Australasia, and the Far East.

As it is a financial product, there are no production facilities or physical products. The management and structuring of the ETF are carried out by BlackRock, which operates globally.

Strategy for Future Growth:

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) pursues an investment strategy aimed at minimizing volatility while providing diversification across international markets outside the US and Canada.

This strategy focuses on:

1. Minimizing Volatility: The ETF invests in stocks that historically have lower volatility. This is intended to reduce risk for investors while offering stable returns.

2. Diversification: The fund aims for broad diversification across various sectors and countries to further spread risk and benefit from different economic conditions.

3. Long-Term Capital Appreciation: By focusing on stable companies with lower volatility, the ETF aims to achieve long-term capital appreciation with less fluctuations.

This strategy is particularly attractive for investors seeking more stable performance in volatile market phases and wanting to benefit from international markets.

Imported raw materials/materials: No specific raw materials

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (BATS:EFAV) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that invests in stocks and not directly in commodities or materials. Therefore, the ETF itself does not import any raw materials or materials.

The ETF aims to replicate the performance of an index consisting of stocks of companies in developed markets outside the US and Canada that exhibit low volatility. However, the underlying companies may import raw materials, but this information is not specifically available for the ETF.

Assets Under Management (AUM): $8.5 billion (estimated for 2025)

Expense Ratio: 0.20% (2023)

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) provides investors with access to international stock markets with a focus on minimizing volatility. The competitive advantage of this ETF lies in its specific investment strategy, which aims to reduce risk while offering broad diversification in developed markets outside the US and Canada.

Another advantage is the relatively low expense ratio of 0.20%, which is competitive compared to actively managed funds and some other ETFs. This allows investors to maximize their returns by minimizing costs.

Furthermore, EFAV benefits from the strong brand and resources of iShares, one of the largest and most well-known providers of ETFs worldwide. This gives the ETF credibility and attracts institutional as well as retail investors.

Institutional Investor Share: approximately 75% (estimated, 2025)

Insider Buys/Sells: No significant insider transactions known (2025)

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is mainly held by institutional investors, which is typical for ETFs of this kind as they are often used as part of diversified portfolios.

Insider transactions are less relevant for ETFs as they represent shares in a fund that in turn invests in a variety of companies, rather than direct company shares. Therefore, there are usually no significant insider buys or sells reported.

Market share of iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV): Estimated around 10% (2025)

Top competitors and their market shares:

1. Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA): Estimated around 20%
2. SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW): Estimated around 15%
3. iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF (IEFA): Estimated around 18%
4. Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF): Estimated around 12%
5. Invesco S&P International Developed Low Volatility ETF (IDLV): Estimated around 8%

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) has a specific focus on minimum volatility, which sets it apart from other ETFs that cover more general international markets. This can be seen as a certain moat, as it appeals to investors specifically interested in a less risky international diversification.

However, some of the competitors, especially the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF and the iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF, have a stronger moat due to their broader market coverage and lower cost structures. These ETFs offer more comprehensive diversification and are often more cost-effective, making them attractive to a broader base of investors.

Overall, EFAV has a specific advantage in its niche strategy, but the larger ETFs with broader coverage and lower costs could be considered stronger competitors.

Fund Size: $6.5 billion USD (2025)

Number of Holdings: 300+ (2025)

Annual Total Expense Ratio: 0.20% (2025)

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is designed to provide investors with exposure to developed markets outside the US and Canada, with a focus on minimizing volatility. The fund's strategy of investing in lower volatility companies may be attractive to investors seeking more stable returns in a volatile market environment.

In 2025, the fund manages a significant volume of $6.5 billion USD, indicating a certain level of investor confidence in the fund's strategy and management. The annual total expense ratio of 0.20% is relatively low, making the fund cost-efficient and improving net returns for investors.

With investments in over 300 positions, the fund offers broad diversification, further reducing risk. This diversification, combined with the focus on lower volatility, can be particularly advantageous in uncertain economic times.

Overall, the EFAV could be a good investment for investors looking for more stable returns in international markets, especially those who prefer a more defensive investment profile.

Dividend Yield: 2.5% (estimated for 2025)

The iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) has regularly distributed dividends in the past. The dividend yield typically ranges from 2% to 3%. These distributions are relatively reliable as the ETF invests in a diversified selection of international stocks that generate stable income.

The reliability of dividend payments depends on the performance of the underlying stocks in the ETF. Since the ETF focuses on low volatility companies, they tend to pay more stable and consistent dividends.