Investment objective & strategy
As of Nov. 21, 2025 · prospectusObjective. The iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (the Fund ) seeks to track the investment results of an index composed of small-capitalization developed market equities, excluding the U.S. and Canada.
Strategy. The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index (the Underlying Index ), which represents the small-capitalization segment of the MSCI EAFE IMI Index. The MSCI EAFE IMI Index is an equity index developed by MSCI Inc. (the Index Provider or MSCI ) that captures large-, mid- and small-capitalization representation across developed markets outside of the U.S. and Canada. Constituents of the Underlying Index include securities from Europe, Australasia and the Far East. Under MSCIs Global Investable Market Index (IMI) methodology, the small-capitalization universe consists of securities of those companies not included in the large-capitalization or mid-capitalization segments of a particular market, which together comprise approximately 85% of each markets free float-adjusted market capitalization. … The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the MSCI EAFE Small Cap Index (the Underlying Index ), which represents the small-capitalization segment of the MSCI EAFE IMI Index. The MSCI EAFE IMI Index is an equity index developed by MSCI Inc. (the Index Provider or MSCI ) that captures large-, mid- and small-capitalization representation across developed markets outside of the U.S. and Canada. Constituents of the Underlying Index include securities from Europe, Australasia and the Far East. Under MSCIs Global Investable Market Index (IMI) methodology, the small-capitalization universe consists of securities of those companies not included in the large-capitalization or mid-capitalization segments of a particular market, which together comprise approximately 85% of each markets free float-adjusted market capitalization. The small-cap segment covers the 85%-99% range of each markets free float-adjusted market capitalization. As of July 31, 2025, the Underlying Index consisted of securities from the following 21 developed market countries or regions: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (the U.K. ). As of July 31, 2025, a significant portion of the Underlying Index is represented by securities of companies in the consumer goods and services and industrials industries or sectors. The components of the Underlying Index are likely to change over time. BFA uses an indexing approach to try to achieve the Funds investment objective. The Fund does not try to beat the index it tracks and does not seek temporary defensive positions when markets decline or appear overvalued. Indexing may eliminate the chance that the Fund will substantially outperform the Underlying Index but also may reduce some of the risks of active management, such as poor security selection. Indexing seeks to achieve lower costs and better after-tax performance by aiming to keep portfolio turnover low in comparison to actively managed investment companies. BFA uses a representative sampling indexing strategy to manage the Fund. Representative sampling is an indexing strategy that involves investing in a representative sample of securities or other instruments that collectively has an investment profile similar to that of an applicable underlying index. The instruments selected are expected to have, in the aggregate, investment characteristics (based on factors such as market capitalization and industry weightings), fundamental characteristics (such as return variability and yield) and liquidity measures similar to those of an applicable underlying index. The Fund may or may not hold all of the components of the Underlying Index. The Fund generally will invest at least 80% of its assets in the component securities of its Underlying Index and in investments that have economic characteristics that are substantially identical to the component securities of its Underlying Index ( i.e ., depositary receipts representing securities of the Underlying Index) and may invest up to 20% of its assets in certain futures, options and swap contracts, cash and cash equivalents, including shares of money market funds advised by BFA or its affiliates, as well as in securities not included in the Underlying Index, but which BFA believes will help the Fund track the Underlying Index. Cash and cash equivalent investments associated with a derivative position will be treated as part of that position for the purposes of calculating the percentage of investments included in the Underlying Index. The Fund seeks to track the investment results of the Underlying Index before fees and expenses of the Fund. The Fund may lend securities representing up to one-third of the value of the Fund's total assets (including the value of any collateral received). The Underlying Index is sponsored by MSCI, which is ? independent of the Fund and BFA. The Index Provider determines the composition and relative weightings of the securities in the Underlying Index and publishes information regarding the market value of the Underlying Index. Industry Concentration Policy. The Fund will concentrate its investments ( i.e. , hold 25% or more of its total assets) in a particular industry or group of industries to approximately the same extent that the Underlying Index is concentrated. For purposes of this limitation, securities of the U.S. government (including its agencies and instrumentalities) and repurchase agreements collateralized by U.S. government securities are not considered to be issued by members of any industry.
Top holdings
As of Jan. 31, 2026 · N-PORT| Security | Ticker | Value | % of fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlackRock Cash Funds: Institutional, SL Agency Shares | BISXX | $528.86M | 3.89% |
| TOWER SEMICONDCT | — | $56.31M | 0.41% |
| BAWAG GROUP AG | — | $49.15M | 0.36% |
| IBIDEN CO LTD | — | $48.18M | 0.35% |
| WEIR GROUP PLC | — | $43.52M | 0.32% |
| ST JAMES S PLACE PLC | STJ | $41.95M | 0.31% |
| RESONAC HOLDINGS | — | $38.90M | 0.29% |
| DIPLOMA PLC COMMON STOCK | DPLM | $37.61M | 0.28% |
| PLS GROUP LTD | — | $36.06M | 0.27% |
| BEAZLEY PLC/UK | BEZ | $35.63M | 0.26% |
Portfolio moves
Oct 31, 2025 → Jan 31, 2026How many positions this fund opened, exited, grew, trimmed, or left unchanged between its two most recent N-PORT snapshots — net changes between point-in-time reports, not a trade log.
Similar funds
Funds whose portfolios most overlap this one, by weight| Fund | Overlap | Net exp. |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity SAI International Small Cap Index Fund · FSISX | 95% | 0.10% |
| Avantis International Small Cap Equity ETF · AVDS | 53% | 0.30% |
| Dimensional VA International Small Portfolio | 49% | 0.39% |
Advisers
| Firm | Role |
|---|---|
| BlackRock Fund Advisors | Adviser |
Footnotes
- Expense ratio as of November 21, 2025, from the fund's prospectus.
- Net assets and holdings count as of January 31, 2026, from the fund's N-PORT filing.
- Total return for calendar year 2025, before tax and after fund expenses. Computed by compounding the twelve monthly total returns the fund reported in its SEC N-PORT filings for 2025 (the latest prospectus does not yet chart this year).
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