At a glance
DMXF charges 0.12% a year, below the 0.18% average of the 8 funds most like it (the 4th cheapest of 9). It has $959.7M in assets, the 7th largest of that group; it paid 4.2% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, semiannual. Over the past year it returned +12.3% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 7th of those 9 funds; over three years it returned +19.4% a year. At its worst it fell 32.4% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 16 months after the low. Its ten largest positions make up 22.0% of the fund, out of 415 in all.
The short version
The iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETF (DMXF) is a BlackRock index fund. It tracks the MSCI EAFE Choice ESG Screened Index, which holds large and mid-sized companies in developed markets outside the US and Canada that earn strong ESG ratings. It screens out fossil fuels, weapons, tobacco, gambling and nuclear power, among other areas. It charges 0.12% a year, below the 0.18% peer average. Plain EAFE index funds such as IEFA cost less.
Price history
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DMXF +12.3% over the year to Oct 27, 2026, total return with distributions reinvested.
How it has behaved
| YTD | 1 yr | 3 yr | 5 yr | 10 yr | Since start | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMXF official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2024 | — | +3.49% | — | — | — | +7.36% |
| MSCIACWI Ex USA Index index, same period | — | +5.53% | — | — | — | +7.13% |
| DMXF price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +13.1% | +12.3% | +19.4% | +6.9% | — | +7.3% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, DMXF returned +12.3%, 7th of 9 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +6.9%.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-19.2%); its best was 2025 (+22.1%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 34.5% (Sep 7, 2021 to Oct 12, 2022), recovered by Mar 7, 2024.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +13.1% | — |
| 2025 | +22.1% | — |
| 2024 | +4.0% | +3.49% |
| 2023 | +20.6% | +20.75% |
| 2022 | -19.2% | -19.18% |
| 2021 | — | +10.92% |
| 2008 financial crisis stocks fell Oct 9, 2007 – Mar 9, 2009 | Before this security existed |
|---|---|
| 2020 COVID crash stocks fell Feb 19, 2020 – Mar 23, 2020 | Before this security existed |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 32.1% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 32.4%, back to its old high 16.4 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $1.0300 | |
| 2025 | $3.6400 | +93.6% |
| 2024 | $1.8800 | +28.8% |
| 2023 | $1.4600 | +14.1% |
| 2022 | $1.2800 |
What's inside
As of Aug 31, 2026, the fund held 415 securities; the ten largest made up 22.04% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V. | 5.92% | |
| Novartis AG | 2.50% | |
| Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | 2.19% | |
| SAP SE | 2.06% | |
| Allianz SE | 1.78% | |
| COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 1.72% | |
| SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SE | 1.69% | |
| Tokyo Electron Limited | 1.41% | |
| Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | 1.40% | |
| ABB Ltd | 1.38% | |
| ADVANTEST CORPORATION | 1.38% | |
| Recruit Holdings Co.,Ltd. | 1.35% | |
| Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. | 1.13% | |
| L'AIR LIQUIDE SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE SA | 1.13% | |
| DBS GROUP HOLDINGS LTD | 1.13% |
By country
Japan 29.9%Netherlands 11.84%Switzerland 10.08%Germany 7.86%France 7.11%By asset type
Stocks 98.23%Other 1.64%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Aug 31, 2026, investors withdrew a net $217.4M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +2.39%, -0.80%, +3.10%.
How it works
MSCI builds the index in steps. It starts with the MSCI EAFE Index, a broad index of developed-market stocks outside the US and Canada. MSCI Solutions then rates each company's environmental, social and governance (ESG) record from CCC (lowest) to AAA (highest), compared with peers in the same sector. Only companies rated BBB or higher are eligible. The index then removes the energy sector, companies tied to coal, oil and gas, and firms involved in very serious controversies. It also excludes alcohol, tobacco, gambling, adult entertainment, several kinds of weapons, palm oil, private prisons, predatory lending, nuclear power and genetic engineering. A company that gets more than half its revenue from alternative energy can be added back.
The companies that pass are weighted by free float-adjusted market value, which counts only shares available to the public. The index is reviewed every quarter. As of August 31, 2026, the fund held 415 stocks. The top 10 made up 22% of assets, led by ASML at 5.9%, and Japan made up 29.9%.
BlackRock Fund Advisors uses representative sampling: it holds a sample of stocks that matches the index's profile and keeps at least 90% of assets in index stocks. Up to 10% can go into futures, cash and similar holdings. The fund may lend up to one-third of its assets, and its portfolio turnover was 14%.
What it really costs
- DMXF charges 0.12% a year, versus an average of 0.18% for the similar funds below (4th of 9, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $12 in the first year and $154 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMXF | $12 | $39 | $68 | $154 |
In a retirement portfolio
It adds developed-market stocks outside North America to a portfolio, with ESG screens and a low fee.
DMXF could serve as the international stock slice for investors who want ESG screens. Its price history starts in February 2021, so it has no record through the 2008 crisis or the 2020 COVID crash. In the 2022 bear market it fell 32.4% and took about 16 months to recover, by February 2024. Its deepest drop was 34.5%, from September 2021 to October 2022. Its worst calendar year was 2022, with a 19.18% loss. Anyone who has to sell shares during a slump like that locks in losses. The trailing 12-month yield was 4.2% as of October 27, 2026, paid twice a year, so the payouts are uneven. Costs are low: $154 over 10 years in the SEC's $10,000 example. Past results don't predict the future, and a plan should look at the whole portfolio, not one fund.
Who it may suit — and who should look elsewhere
May suit
- Investors who want developed-market stocks outside the US and Canada, with fossil fuels, weapons, tobacco and gambling screened out, for 0.12% a year.
- Holders comfortable with heavy exposure to Japan (29.9%) and a single stock, ASML, at nearly 6% of assets as of August 31, 2026.
- Long-term investors who can sit through drops like the 34.5% fall from September 2021 to October 2022 and wait about 17 months to recover.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-focused investors: IEFA charges 0.07%, SCHF 0.06% and IDEV 0.04%, with no ESG screens.
- People who need steady monthly income. DMXF pays only twice a year.
- Investors who want full-market international exposure. The screens can cause gaps, as in 2024, when the fund returned 3.49% against 5.53% for the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DMXF this fund | — | 0.12% | $959.7M | +12.3% | +19.4% |
| EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | 48% | 0.32% | $77.98B | +13.5% | +18.2% |
| ESGD iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF | 48% | 0.21% | $12.21B | +11.7% | +19.8% |
| EFV iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF | 42% | 0.33% | $29.11B | +21.9% | +23.3% |
| IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 41% | 0.07% | $190.11B | +13.7% | +18.5% |
| NUDM Nuveen ESG International Developed Markets … | 38% | 0.31% | $707.9M | +9.1% | +20.3% |
| IDEV iShares Core MSCI International Developed M… | 35% | 0.04% | $31.64B | +14.6% | +19.2% |
| FEDM FlexShares ESG & Climate Developed Markets … | 34% | 0.12% | $79.1M | +13.8% | +19.3% |
Questions investors ask
Is DMXF good for retirement?
It can fill the international stock slot for retirement investors who want ESG screens, but it is a stock fund with stock-like swings. It fell 34.5% from September 2021 to October 2022 and took about 17 months to recover. It costs 0.12% a year and pays income twice a year. The trailing yield was 4.2% as of October 27, 2026. Its price history starts in 2021, so it hasn't been tested in the 2008 or 2020 crashes.
What's the difference between DMXF and ESGD?
Both are iShares ESG funds that invest in EAFE markets, but DMXF is cheaper and much smaller. DMXF charges 0.12% against 0.21% for ESGD (the iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF), and it holds about $960 million against ESGD's $12.2 billion. Their holdings overlap by about 48%. As of October 27, 2026, DMXF returned 12.3% over one year versus 11.7% for ESGD. Over three years, DMXF returned 19.4% a year versus 19.8%.
Does DMXF pay dividends?
Yes. DMXF pays distributions twice a year, not monthly or quarterly. Over the 12 months to October 27, 2026, it paid $3.53 per share, a trailing yield of 4.2%. Payouts from international stocks can vary with company profits, dividend timing and exchange rates. When foreign currencies weaken against the US dollar, the dollar value of those dividends shrinks.
What is the DMXF expense ratio?
DMXF's expense ratio is 0.12%, according to its prospectus filed December 19, 2025. In the SEC's standard example ($10,000 invested, a 5% annual return, shares sold at the end), costs come to about $12 after one year, $68 after five years and $154 after ten. That is below the 0.18% average for similar funds, but IEFA (0.07%), SCHF (0.06%) and IDEV (0.04%) cost less and do not apply ESG screens.
Does DMXF hold oil and gas companies?
No. Its index excludes the whole energy sector and any company tied to fossil fuels, such as owning oil, gas or coal reserves or earning revenue from them. Companies that get more than half their revenue from alternative energy can be added back if they meet set conditions. The index also removes companies tied to alcohol, tobacco, gambling, weapons, nuclear power, palm oil, private prisons and predatory lending.