At a glance
ESGD charges 0.2% a year, above the 0.13% average of the 8 funds most like it (the 7th cheapest of 9). It has $12.21B in assets, the 8th largest of that group; it paid 3.32% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, semiannual. Over the past year it returned +11.7% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), the weakest of those 9 funds; over three years it returned +19.8% a year. At its worst it fell 32.5% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 29.2% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 8 months and 17 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 13.9% of the fund, out of 363 in all.
The short version
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF (ESGD) is a BlackRock index fund. It tracks the MSCI EAFE Extended ESG Focus Index, a version of the MSCI EAFE Index of large and mid-sized companies in developed markets outside the US and Canada. The index leans toward companies with higher ESG (environmental, social and governance) ratings while aiming to keep risk and return close to the parent index. ESGD's 0.20% expense ratio is below EFA's 0.32% but above the 0.13% average for similar funds.
Price history
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ESGD +11.7% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESGD official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2024 | — | +3.80% | — | +4.79% | — | +7.49% |
| MSCIACWI Ex USA Index index, same period | — | +5.53% | — | +4.10% | — | +7.00% |
| MSCI All Country World Index index, same period | — | +17.49% | — | +10.06% | — | +11.54% |
| ESGD price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +9.9% | +11.7% | +19.8% | +8.3% | +9.3% | +9.4% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, ESGD returned +11.7%, 9th of 9 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +8.3% and its 10-year +9.3%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 32.5% and regained its old high 7.6 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2022 (-15.1%); its best was 2025 (+29.6%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 33.7% (Jan 17, 2020 to Mar 23, 2020), recovered by Nov 11, 2020.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +9.9% | — |
| 2025 | +29.6% | — |
| 2024 | +4.0% | +3.80% |
| 2023 | +18.6% | +18.08% |
| 2022 | -15.1% | -14.96% |
| 2021 | +11.8% | +11.60% |
| 2020 | +8.2% | +8.62% |
| 2019 | +23.1% | +23.45% |
| 2018 | -13.3% | -13.62% |
| 2017 | +25.1% | +25.21% |
| 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 | Lost 32.5% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 32.5%, back to its old high 7.6 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 28.7% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 29.2%, back to its old high 16.6 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $1.6300 | |
| 2025 | $3.4200 | +38.5% |
| 2024 | $2.4700 | +7.9% |
| 2023 | $2.2900 | +33.9% |
| 2022 | $1.7100 | -21.6% |
| 2021 | $2.1800 | +83.2% |
| 2020 | $1.1900 | -32.8% |
| 2019 | $1.7700 | +14.2% |
| 2018 | $1.5500 | -13.9% |
| 2017 | $1.8000 |
What's inside
As of Aug 31, 2026, the fund held 363 securities; the ten largest made up 13.93% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V. | 3.14% | |
| HSBC HOLDINGS PLC | 1.55% | |
| Novartis AG | 1.47% | |
| Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | 1.23% | |
| SAP SE | 1.21% | |
| Roche Holding AG | 1.20% | |
| Allianz SE | 1.07% | |
| Nestle S.A. | 1.07% | |
| SHELL PLC | 1.00% | |
| INTESA SANPAOLO SPA | 0.99% | |
| ABB Ltd | 0.99% | |
| ASTRAZENECA PLC | 0.96% | |
| BHP GROUP LIMITED | 0.96% | |
| COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA | 0.96% | |
| Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | 0.89% |
By country
Japan 23.55%United Kingdom 13.33%Switzerland 9.63%Germany 8.54%France 8.34%By asset type
Stocks 98.12%Other 1.06%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Aug 31, 2026, investors added a net $239.1M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +0.94%, +1.61%, +1.63%.
How it works
ESGD is a BlackRock iShares index fund that tracks the MSCI EAFE Extended ESG Focus Index. MSCI starts with its MSCI EAFE Index of large and midsize companies in developed markets outside the U.S. and Canada. It then drops companies tied to tobacco, controversial weapons or civilian firearms, firms above set revenue limits in thermal coal or oil sands, and those in very severe ongoing controversies.
MSCI rates each remaining company's handling of environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks against its industry peers. A math-based optimizer then tilts weights toward higher-rated companies while keeping risk and return similar to the EAFE Index. At each quarterly review, the index's ESG score must be at least 10% better than the EAFE Index's. As of August 31, 2026, the fund had 363 holdings. ASML was the largest at about 3.1%, and Shell was among the top 10.
BlackRock uses representative sampling, so the fund may own only a subset of index stocks, chosen to mirror the index's overall profile. At least 90% of assets go into index stocks or close equivalents. Up to 10% can be in futures, swaps, cash and similar holdings. The fund may lend out securities worth up to one-third of its assets. It does not take defensive positions when markets fall.
What it really costs
- ESGD charges 0.2% a year, versus an average of 0.13% for the similar funds below (7th of 9, cheapest first).
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $20 in the first year and $255 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESGD | $20 | $64 | $113 | $255 |
In a retirement portfolio
It adds large developed-market companies from Japan, Europe and Australia to a portfolio that may otherwise lean heavily on US stocks.
ESGD spreads money across 363 holdings in 21 developed countries outside North America, but it is still a stock fund, and currency moves can add to its swings. It fell 32.5% in the 2020 COVID crash and got back to its old high about 7.6 months after the March 23, 2020 low. In the 2022 bear market it dropped 29.2% and took about 16.6 months from its September 2022 low to recover. Its worst calendar year was 2022, at -14.96%. The fund launched in 2016, so it has no record from 2008. Anyone forced to sell shares during a stretch like that would lock in losses. The trailing 12-month yield was 3.32% as of October 27, 2026, paid twice a year. On $10,000, the SEC's standard example puts costs at $255 over 10 years. 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 broad developed-market stocks outside the US and Canada with an ESG tilt that's built to track the MSCI EAFE Index closely.
- Investors willing to pay 0.20%, versus 0.07% for IEFA, for screens that exclude tobacco, controversial weapons, civilian firearms, thermal coal and oil sands.
- Investors comfortable with dividends paid twice a year. The trailing yield was 3.32% as of October 27, 2026.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-focused investors: VEA and SPDW charge 0.03% and IDEV charges 0.04%, compared with ESGD's 0.20%.
- Investors who want all fossil fuels excluded: Shell made up about 1.0% of the fund as of August 31, 2026.
- Investors who need stable values: ESGD fell 33.7% in early 2020 and ranked last of nine similar funds on one-year returns in late October 2026.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ESGD this fund | — | 0.2% | $12.21B | +11.7% | +19.8% |
| EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | 72% | 0.32% | $77.98B | +13.5% | +18.2% |
| IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 64% | 0.07% | $190.11B | +13.7% | +18.5% |
| IDEV iShares Core MSCI International Developed M… | 57% | 0.04% | $31.64B | +14.6% | +19.2% |
| SCHF Schwab International Equity ETF | 55% | 0.06% | $69.68B | +17.7% | +20.4% |
| SPDW SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF | 51% | 0.03% | $40.29B | +17.3% | +20.5% |
| VEA Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | 50% | 0.03% | $316.42B | +16.8% | +21.7% |
| EFV iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF | 49% | 0.33% | $29.11B | +21.9% | +23.3% |
Questions investors ask
What's the difference between ESGD and EFA?
Both are iShares funds built on the MSCI EAFE universe. EFA tracks the MSCI EAFE Index itself. ESGD tracks an ESG version that removes some industries and shifts weight toward higher-rated companies, while aiming for similar risk and return. Their holdings overlap by about 72%. ESGD charges 0.20% a year and EFA charges 0.32%. Over the past year, EFA's price return was 13.5% as of October 29, 2026, and ESGD's was 11.7% as of October 27, 2026.
Does ESGD pay dividends?
Yes. ESGD pays dividends twice a year. As of October 27, 2026, its trailing 12-month yield was 3.32%, or $3.42 per share. The payments come from dividends paid by companies in Japan, Europe, Australia and other developed markets. They can vary from one payment to the next because company payouts change and currency moves change their value in US dollars.
What is the expense ratio of ESGD?
ESGD's expense ratio is 0.20%, according to its prospectus filed December 19, 2025. In the SEC's standard example, $10,000 invested with a 5% annual return costs about $20 after one year, $64 after three, $113 after five and $255 after ten. The average for similar funds is 0.13%. IEFA charges 0.07%, while EFA charges 0.32%.
Does ESGD own oil companies?
Yes, some. The index excludes companies with certain fossil fuel activities, such as thermal coal production, coal-based power generation and oil sands extraction above set revenue thresholds. It doesn't exclude all oil and gas companies. As of August 31, 2026, Shell was among the fund's 15 largest holdings at about 1.0% of assets. Investors looking for a full fossil fuel exclusion would need to check other funds' rules.
How has ESGD performed over time?
Through December 31, 2024, the prospectus shows ESGD returned 3.80% over one year, 4.79% a year over five years and 7.49% a year since its 2016 launch. Over the same periods, the MSCI ACWI ex USA Index returned 5.53%, 4.10% and 7.00%. As of October 27, 2026, its price-based returns were 11.7% over one year, 19.8% a year over three years and 9.3% a year over ten years. Its 2025 return was 29.63%.