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Is iShares International Equity Factor ETF (INTF) a Strong ETF Right Now?
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Launched on 04/28/2015, the iShares International Equity Factor ETF (INTF - Free Report) is a smart beta exchange traded fund offering broad exposure to the Foreign Large Blend ETF category of the market.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
The ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by products based on market capitalization weighted indexes that are designed to represent the market or a particular segment of the market.
Market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns, and are a good option for investors who believe in market efficiency.
On the other hand, some investors who believe that it is possible to beat the market by superior stock selection opt to invest in another class of funds that track non-cap weighted strategies--popularly known as smart beta.
This kind of index follows this same mindset, as it attempts to pick stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance; non-cap weighted strategies base selection on certain fundamental characteristics, or a mix of such characteristics.
Methodologies like equal-weighting, one of the simplest options out there, fundamental weighting, and volatility/momentum based weighting are all choices offered to investors in this space, but not all of them can deliver superior returns.
Fund Sponsor & Index
The fund is managed by Blackrock, and has been able to amass over $3.48 billion, which makes it one of the larger ETFs in the Foreign Large Blend ETF. INTF seeks to match the performance of the MSCI World ex USA Diversified Multi-Factor Index before fees and expenses.
The STOXX International Equity Factor Index composes of global developed market large and mid-capitalization stocks, excluding the US, that have favourable exposure to target style factors subject to constraints.
Cost & Other Expenses
Since cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.
Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.16% for this ETF, which makes it one of the least expensive products in the space.
The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.59%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
While ETFs offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, a deep look into a fund's holdings is a valuable exercise. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
Looking at individual holdings, Novartis Ag (NOVN) accounts for about 2.19% of total assets, followed by Asml Holding Nv (ASML) and Astrazeneca Plc (AZN).
The top 10 holdings account for about 11.88% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
The ETF has added about 10.52% so far this year and is up about 27.39% in the last one year (as of 05/27/2026). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $33.00 and $41.76
INTF has a beta of 0.75 and standard deviation of 14.85% for the trailing three-year period, which makes the fund a medium risk choice in the space. With about 502 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .
Alternatives
iShares International Equity Factor ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Blend ETF segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares (VXUS) tracks FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index and the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares (VEA) tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index. Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares has $150.77 billion in assets, Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares has $230.65 billion. VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05% and VEA changes 0.03%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Foreign Large Blend ETF
Bottom Line
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.
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Is iShares International Equity Factor ETF (INTF) a Strong ETF Right Now?
Launched on 04/28/2015, the iShares International Equity Factor ETF (INTF - Free Report) is a smart beta exchange traded fund offering broad exposure to the Foreign Large Blend ETF category of the market.
What Are Smart Beta ETFs?
The ETF industry has traditionally been dominated by products based on market capitalization weighted indexes that are designed to represent the market or a particular segment of the market.
Market cap weighted indexes offer a low-cost, convenient, and transparent way of replicating market returns, and are a good option for investors who believe in market efficiency.
On the other hand, some investors who believe that it is possible to beat the market by superior stock selection opt to invest in another class of funds that track non-cap weighted strategies--popularly known as smart beta.
This kind of index follows this same mindset, as it attempts to pick stocks that have better chances of risk-return performance; non-cap weighted strategies base selection on certain fundamental characteristics, or a mix of such characteristics.
Methodologies like equal-weighting, one of the simplest options out there, fundamental weighting, and volatility/momentum based weighting are all choices offered to investors in this space, but not all of them can deliver superior returns.
Fund Sponsor & Index
The fund is managed by Blackrock, and has been able to amass over $3.48 billion, which makes it one of the larger ETFs in the Foreign Large Blend ETF. INTF seeks to match the performance of the MSCI World ex USA Diversified Multi-Factor Index before fees and expenses.
The STOXX International Equity Factor Index composes of global developed market large and mid-capitalization stocks, excluding the US, that have favourable exposure to target style factors subject to constraints.
Cost & Other Expenses
Since cheaper funds tend to produce better results than more expensive funds, assuming all other factors remain equal, it is important for investors to pay attention to an ETF's expense ratio.
Operating expenses on an annual basis are 0.16% for this ETF, which makes it one of the least expensive products in the space.
The fund has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 2.59%.
Sector Exposure and Top Holdings
While ETFs offer diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk, a deep look into a fund's holdings is a valuable exercise. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
Looking at individual holdings, Novartis Ag (NOVN) accounts for about 2.19% of total assets, followed by Asml Holding Nv (ASML) and Astrazeneca Plc (AZN).
The top 10 holdings account for about 11.88% of total assets under management.
Performance and Risk
The ETF has added about 10.52% so far this year and is up about 27.39% in the last one year (as of 05/27/2026). In the past 52-week period, it has traded between $33.00 and $41.76
INTF has a beta of 0.75 and standard deviation of 14.85% for the trailing three-year period, which makes the fund a medium risk choice in the space. With about 502 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk .
Alternatives
iShares International Equity Factor ETF is a reasonable option for investors seeking to outperform the Foreign Large Blend ETF segment of the market. However, there are other ETFs in the space which investors could consider.
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares (VXUS) tracks FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index and the Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares (VEA) tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index. Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares has $150.77 billion in assets, Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares has $230.65 billion. VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05% and VEA changes 0.03%.
Investors looking for cheaper and lower-risk options should consider traditional market cap weighted ETFs that aim to match the returns of the Foreign Large Blend ETF
Bottom Line
To learn more about this product and other ETFs, screen for products that match your investment objectives and read articles on latest developments in the ETF investing universe, please visit Zacks ETF Center.