What is the MSCI EAFE YTD return in 2026?
The MSCI EAFE is up +14.63% year to date with dividends reinvested (total return through Sep 4, 2026), or +12.84% on price alone — dividends have added 1.79 points so far. EFA started the year at $96.03 and closed at $108.36. That makes 2026 the 5th best start in 25 years of data through this date.
Price return vs total return#
Total return assumes distributions are reinvested; price return measures only the change in the ETF's share price. The 1.79 percentage-point gap is the contribution from dividends so far this year.
2026 YTD daily chart#
Daily EFA price since the final market close of 2025. Hover for the close, price YTD, total return YTD with dividends reinvested, and that day's price move.
- Total-return high
- +15.1% · Aug 25, 2026
- Total-return low
- -2.5% · Mar 20, 2026
- Max drawdown YTD
- -11.4%
- All-time-high closes
- 25 days
How 2026 compares with previous years#
Every year is measured through Sep 4 — the same calendar date as the current result — so the comparison is not skewed by full-year outcomes.
Years that looked like this one
The five closest starts to 2026's +14.6%, each traced through its full year — labels show how each finished. 2026's path so far is the bold line.
2006 (+14.6% then → finished +25.8%) · 2021 (+14.0% then → finished +11.4%) · 2003 (+17.8% then → finished +39.8%) · 2017 (+17.9% then → finished +25.1%) · 2019 (+11.2% then → finished +22.0%).
Every year's YTD return through the same date#
Ranked by total return through Sep 4, with each completed calendar year's final return alongside it.
Best starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +22.9% | +31.5% |
| 2009 | +19.5% | +27.0% |
| 2017 | +17.9% | +25.1% |
| 2003 | +17.8% | +39.8% |
| 2026 (now) | +14.6% | — |
Worst starts
| Year | YTD then | Finished |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | -22.6% | -41.0% |
| 2022 | -21.4% | -14.4% |
| 2002 | -14.4% | -15.4% |
| 2011 | -9.4% | -12.2% |
| 2020 | -5.8% | +7.6% |
| Rank | Year | YTD through this date | Full-year return |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2025 | +22.9% | +31.5% |
| 2 | 2009 | +19.5% | +27.0% |
| 3 | 2017 | +17.9% | +25.1% |
| 4 | 2003 | +17.8% | +39.8% |
| 5 | 2026 (now) | +14.6% | — |
| 6 | 2006 | +14.6% | +25.8% |
| 7 | 2021 | +14.0% | +11.4% |
| 8 | 2019 | +11.2% | +22.0% |
| 9 | 2023 | +10.9% | +18.4% |
| 10 | 2024 | +9.8% | +3.5% |
| 11 | 2013 | +9.2% | +21.4% |
| 12 | 2007 | +8.1% | +10.0% |
| 13 | 2005 | +6.5% | +13.3% |
| 14 | 2012 | +6.1% | +18.8% |
| 15 | 2016 | +3.3% | +1.4% |
| 16 | 2014 | +2.3% | -6.2% |
| 17 | 2004 | +1.1% | +19.0% |
| 18 | 2018 | -3.1% | -13.8% |
| 19 | 2010 | -3.4% | +8.2% |
| 20 | 2015 | -3.7% | -1.0% |
| 21 | 2020 | -5.8% | +7.6% |
| 22 | 2011 | -9.4% | -12.2% |
| 23 | 2002 | -14.4% | -15.4% |
| 24 | 2022 | -21.4% | -14.4% |
| 25 | 2008 | -22.6% | -41.0% |
2026 monthly YTD chart#
Each bar is one calendar month's total return; the current month runs through Sep 4, 2026.
2026 YTD return by month#
Monthly total return and the compounded year-to-date result after each month.
| Month | Monthly return | Cumulative YTD |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | +4.9% | +4.9% |
| Feb | +4.6% | +9.7% |
| Mar | -7.8% | +1.1% |
| Apr | +5.3% | +6.6% |
| May | +2.4% | +9.1% |
| Jun | +0.6% | +9.8% |
| Jul | +1.7% | +11.7% |
| Aug | +1.8% | +13.7% |
| Sep | +0.8% | +14.6% |
Notes & related#
Returns are computed from EFA (the MSCI EAFE ETF): total return uses dividend-adjusted closes, price return uses split-adjusted closes only. “YTD through the same date” compares each year at the identical month-day, so early-year rankings aren't skewed by full-year outcomes. Data updates after each market close.
Keep going: MSCI EAFE returns by year, monthly returns, or the drawdown record.
More on MSCI EAFE
- Returns by year+14.6%
- Monthly returns+0.8%
- Weekly returns+0.6%
- Trailing returns+22.6%
- Drawdown from high−0.4%