At a glance
INTF charges 0.16% a year, above the 0.12% average of the 8 funds most like it (the 7th cheapest of 9). It has $3.62B in assets, the 9th largest of that group; it paid 3.0% of its price in distributions over the past 12 months, semiannual. Over the past year it returned +15.9% with distributions reinvested (S&P 500: +11.5%), 5th of those 9 funds; over three years it returned +22.8% a year. At its worst it fell 35.2% in the 2020 crash (S&P 500: 33.7%) and 27.7% in the 2022 bear market (S&P 500: 24.5%), and was back at its earlier high 8 months and 15 months after the lows. Its ten largest positions make up 12.8% of the fund, out of 493 in all.
The short version
iShares International Equity Factor ETF (INTF) holds about 490 stocks from developed markets outside the US. The STOXX International Equity Factor Index picks and weights them to lean toward five traits: momentum, quality, value, low volatility and smaller size. That factor approach is the main thing that separates it from plain international index funds. Its 0.16% expense ratio is above IEFA (0.07%) and VEA (0.03%) but half of EFA's 0.32%.
Price history
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INTF +15.9% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTF official prospectus, to Dec 31, 2024 | — | +5.89% | — | +4.77% | — | +4.59% |
| S And P Developedex Us Broad Market Index Net index, same period | — | +3.25% | — | +4.42% | — | +4.25% |
| STOXX International Equity Factor Index Spliced index, same period | — | +5.96% | — | +4.77% | — | +4.66% |
| INTF price data to Oct 27, 2026 | +11.4% | +15.9% | +22.8% | +10.7% | +9.4% | +7.6% |
- Over the year to Oct 27, 2026, INTF returned +15.9%, 5th of 9 among similar funds.
- Its 5-year annualized return was +10.7% and its 10-year +9.4%.
- In the 2020 COVID crash it fell 35.2% and regained its old high 8.4 months after the low.
- Its worst full calendar year was 2018 (-15.9%); its best was 2025 (+35.5%).
- The deepest fall in its price history was 40.4% (Jan 26, 2018 to Mar 23, 2020), recovered by Mar 11, 2021.
Show as a table
| Year | Price data | Prospectus (official) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | +11.4% | — |
| 2025 | +35.5% | — |
| 2024 | +6.0% | +5.89% |
| 2023 | +18.3% | +18.35% |
| 2022 | -12.3% | -12.36% |
| 2021 | +11.7% | +11.49% |
| 2020 | +2.8% | +3.07% |
| 2019 | +18.4% | +18.11% |
| 2018 | -15.9% | -15.67% |
| 2017 | +28.5% | +28.15% |
| 2016 | -0.7% | -0.21% |
| 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 35.2% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 35.2%, back to its old high 8.4 months after the low |
| 2022 bear market stocks fell Jan 3, 2022 – Oct 12, 2022 | Lost 26.3% over that stretch · deepest drop along the way 27.7%, back to its old high 14.8 months after the low |
Dividends and income
Show as a table
| Year | Per share | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (to date) | $0.7200 | |
| 2025 | $1.0800 | +5.9% |
| 2024 | $1.0200 | +1.0% |
| 2023 | $1.0100 | +46.4% |
| 2022 | $0.6900 | -55.5% |
| 2021 | $1.5500 | +176.8% |
| 2020 | $0.5600 | -43.4% |
| 2019 | $0.9900 | +59.7% |
| 2018 | $0.6200 | -34.0% |
| 2017 | $0.9400 | +147.4% |
| 2016 | $0.3800 |
What's inside
As of Jul 31, 2026, the fund held 493 securities; the ten largest made up 12.81% of assets.
| Holding | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| ASML Holding N.V. | 2.35% | |
| Novartis AG | 2.12% | |
| ROYAL BANK OF CANADA | 1.21% | |
| HSBC HOLDINGS PLC | 1.19% | |
| Roche Holding AG | 1.07% | |
| ABB Ltd | 1.04% | |
| Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. | 1.04% | |
| Nestle S.A. | 0.94% | |
| BHP GROUP LIMITED | 0.93% | |
| Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. | 0.92% | |
| Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. | 0.88% | |
| UNICREDIT, SOCIETA PER AZIONI | 0.87% | |
| ASTRAZENECA PLC | 0.82% | |
| ABN AMRO Bank N.V. | 0.77% | |
| LOBLAW COMPANIES LIMITED | 0.76% |
By country
Japan 24.42%United Kingdom 11.47%Switzerland 8.57%Canada 7.3%France 7.24%By asset type
Stocks 98.85%Other 0.93%What changed recently
- Over the three months to Jul 31, 2026, investors added a net $123.1M (creations minus redemptions, per the N-PORT report).
- Monthly total returns reported for that quarter: +1.40%, +0.16%, +2.38%.
How it works
INTF tracks the STOXX International Equity Factor Index, built by STOXX Ltd. The index starts with the STOXX Global 1800 ex USA, which covers the largest companies in developed markets outside the US. An optimization process (a computer model that balances several goals) then picks and weights stocks for the most exposure to five "factors." Factors are traits that research links to long-run returns. Momentum means rising prices and earnings. Quality means profitability, little share dilution, sound accounting, low carbon emissions intensity and strong greenhouse-gas reduction targets. Value means a low price compared with book value, earnings, dividends and cash flow. Low volatility means small price swings over the past 12 months. Size means a tilt toward smaller companies.
The model has guardrails. It aims to keep overall risk close to the parent index, limit trading, and keep country and sector weights near the parent's. No stock can exceed 10% of the index, and stocks above 4.5% must together stay under 22.5%. The index is rebalanced quarterly. Portfolio turnover was 21%, according to the prospectus filed November 21, 2025.
BlackRock Fund Advisors uses "representative sampling," which means holding a sample of stocks that behaves like the index rather than every stock in it. At least 80% of assets go into index stocks. Up to 20% can go into futures, swaps, cash and other holdings that help it track the index. The fund can lend out up to one-third of its assets. It never moves into defensive positions when markets fall.
What it really costs
- INTF charges 0.16% a year, versus an average of 0.12% for the similar funds below (7th of 9, cheapest first).
- Of that, 0.15% is the management fee; the rest covers other fund expenses.
- Using the prospectus's standard example, $10,000 invested would cost about $16 in the first year and $205 over 10 years (assuming a 5% annual return).
| Cost of $10,000 (SEC example) | 1 yr | 3 yrs | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTF | $16 | $52 | $90 | $205 |
In a retirement portfolio
It spreads a US-heavy portfolio across about 490 developed-market companies abroad, with Japan the largest country at 24.42% as of July 31, 2026.
INTF launched in April 2015, so it has no record from 2008. It fell 35.2% in the 2020 COVID crash and recovered by December 2020. It fell 27.7% in 2022 and did not recover until December 2023. Its worst calendar year was 2018, down 15.67%. Its deepest drop was 40.4%, from January 2018 to March 2020, and it did not make that up until March 2021. Anyone who sold shares for spending money during those stretches would have sold near the lows.
The yield was 3% as of October 27, 2026, paid twice a year, so the income comes in lumps. The SEC's standard example puts costs at $205 over ten years on a $10,000 investment, which is more than many plain international index funds charge. Past results don't predict future ones, 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, chosen by rules that favor momentum, quality, value, low volatility and smaller companies.
- Those who want wide diversification: 493 holdings as of July 31, 2026, with the top 10 making up just 12.81% of assets.
- Income-minded holders who are comfortable with twice-yearly payments; the trailing yield was 3% as of October 27, 2026.
Look elsewhere if
- Cost-focused investors: the 0.16% expense ratio is above the 0.12% peer average and well above VEA and SPDW at 0.03%.
- Investors who don't want climate measures in stock selection: the quality score uses carbon emissions intensity and greenhouse-gas reduction targets.
- Anyone who may need the money within a few years: INTF fell 40.4% from 2018 to 2020 and took 14.8 months to recover after 2022.
Close alternatives
Matched by holdings overlap from the latest N-PORT reports.
| Fund | Overlap | Cost | Net assets | 1 yr | 3 yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INTF this fund | — | 0.16% | $3.62B | +15.9% | +22.8% |
| EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | 54% | 0.32% | $77.98B | +13.5% | +18.2% |
| IDEV iShares Core MSCI International Developed M… | 51% | 0.04% | $31.64B | +14.6% | +19.2% |
| IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | 50% | 0.07% | $190.11B | +13.7% | +18.5% |
| SCHF Schwab International Equity ETF | 50% | 0.06% | $69.68B | +17.7% | +20.4% |
| SPDW SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF | 47% | 0.03% | $40.29B | +17.3% | +20.5% |
| VEA Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | 46% | 0.03% | $316.42B | +16.8% | +21.7% |
| VEU Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund | 38% | 0.04% | $95.84B | +13.4% | +20.6% |
Questions investors ask
Is INTF good for retirement?
INTF can add international diversification to a retirement portfolio, but it carries stock-market risk. As of July 31, 2026, it held 493 stocks from developed markets outside the US. Its yield was 3% as of October 27, 2026, paid twice a year. It also fell 35.2% in early 2020 and 27.7% in 2022, and it took 14.8 months to recover from the 2022 low. How well it fits depends on the rest of the portfolio.
What's the difference between INTF and EFA?
Both are iShares funds that invest in developed markets outside the US, and 54% of their holdings overlap, based on the latest N-PORT reports. EFA follows an MSCI EAFE index and is far larger: about $78.0 billion in assets versus $3.6 billion for INTF as of July 31, 2026. INTF leans toward five factors and costs 0.16% a year, versus 0.32% for EFA. Over one year, INTF returned 15.9% through October 27, 2026, and EFA returned 13.5% through October 29, 2026.
Does INTF pay monthly dividends?
No. INTF pays dividends twice a year, not monthly. Over the 12 months through October 27, 2026, it paid $1.24 per share, a trailing yield of 3%. The payments come from dividends on foreign stocks, so they rise and fall with company payouts. They also move with exchange rates, because the fund's value is reported in US dollars. Investors who want steady monthly cash would need to plan around the uneven timing.
What are INTF's top holdings?
As of July 31, 2026, INTF's largest holdings were ASML Holding (2.35%), Novartis (2.12%), Royal Bank of Canada (1.21%), HSBC Holdings (1.19%), Roche (1.07%), ABB (1.04%) and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (1.04%). The top 10 made up just 12.81% of assets across 493 holdings. By country, Japan led at 24.42%, followed by the UK (11.47%), Switzerland (8.57%), Canada (7.3%), France (7.24%) and Germany (6.92%).
How has INTF performed over the long term?
According to its prospectus, INTF returned an average of 4.77% a year over the five years ended December 31, 2024. That was slightly ahead of the S&P Developed Ex-US Broad Market Index, at 4.42%. From its April 2015 launch through that date, it averaged 4.59% a year. Price-based returns as of October 27, 2026 are higher: 9.4% a year over 10 years and 10.7% a year over five years, helped by a 35.49% gain in 2025.