What Is the EFIV ETF? A Complete Guide to Returns, Expense Ratio, Holdings and Alternative ETFs
Invest in ESG-leading companies within the S&P 500. A low-cost ESG ETF that pursues sustainability values and market returns at the same time.
What Is This ETF?
The fund tracks the S&P 500 ESG Index. From the constituents of the S&P 500, it excludes controversial industries and selects companies with high ESG scores. It maintains a risk-return profile similar to the broader market index while building a portfolio with stronger environmental and social responsibility.
It suits value-driven investors who want exposure to the overall growth of the US large-cap market while reflecting sustainability values in their investment portfolio.
It is a passive (index-tracking) ETF launched in 2020 by State Street (SSGA).
How Does It Invest?
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Tracked Index | S&P 500 ESG Index |
| Management Style | Passive (ESG-screened) |
| Rebalancing Frequency | Once a year |
| Dividend Frequency | Quarterly |
| Total Expense Ratio | 0.10% |
Through negative screening, the fund excludes companies in certain industries such as tobacco, weapons and fossil fuels. From the remaining companies, it builds its holdings by targeting those with the highest ESG scores within each industry, and it keeps sector weights close to those of the market index to pursue stable performance.
- Maintains a high correlation with the S&P 500 Index
- An expense ratio among the lowest of all ESG-themed products
Size and Costs
Assets under management (AUM) stand at $1.1B, and the expense ratio is 0.10% per year.
With fees at the lowest level in the industry, the fund captures most of the S&P 500's performance while offering the structural advantage of proactively managing non-financial risks.
Performance and Trends
As high-quality ESG companies such as Big Tech lead the market, the fund has delivered solid results, and stronger sustainability disclosure requirements for global companies are making the portfolio more transparent.
Smart money looking to switch from conventional index funds to ESG funds continues to flow in steadily, and the value of ESG investing as a long-term risk management tool is gaining attention.
Pros and Cons
It invests in proven S&P 500 blue-chip stocks and offers an efficient core holding that reduces ESG risk, though slight performance differences can arise from the exclusion of certain sectors.
💪 Key Strengths
⚠️ Points to Watch
Alternative ETFs and Related Products
While ESGU, shown in the table, aims for broad ESG integration, EFIV focuses more on the S&P 500 universe. Similar products to consider include ESGV and SUSA, and if you prefer stricter filtering, DSI is an alternative. For a product specialized in the climate change theme, USCA is also worth comparing.
| Ticker | Name | Price | Change | AUM | Total Expense Ratio | Dividend Yield | 1Y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iShares Trust iShares ESG Aware MSCI USA ETF | $165.22 | -1.9% | $18.2B | 0.15% | 0.94% | +10.9% | |
| Vanguard ESG U.S. Stock ETF | $132.73 | -2.1% | $13.3B | 0.09% | 0.9% | +9.8% | |
| iShares ESG MSCI KLD 400 ETF | $142.93 | -2.1% | $5.5B | 0.25% | 0.89% | +10.2% | |
| iShares ESG Optimized MSCI USA ETF | $155.03 | -1.9% | $4.1B | 0.25% | 0.84% | +11.5% | |
| Xtrackers MSCI USA Climate Action Equity ETF | $44.81 | -1.8% | $3.5B | 0.07% | 1.06% | +6.8% |
| Ticker | Name | Weight | Price | Change | Market Cap | P/E | Dividend Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NVDA | NVIDIA Corp | 0.23% | $204.64 | -4.2% | $4.93T | 25.9 | 0.38% |
| AAPL | Apple Inc | 0.10% | $344.63 | -1.2% | $5.03T | 39.5 | 0.32% |
| MSFT | Microsoft Corp | 0.14% | $521.91 | -1.6% | $3.88T | 27.3 | 0.74% |
| GOOG | Alphabet Inc | 0.05% | $278.22 | -1.4% | $3.41T | 14.5 | 0.31% |
| GOOGL | Alphabet Inc | 0.12% | $279.84 | -1.4% | $3.41T | 14.6 | 0.31% |
| META | Meta Platforms Inc | 0.03% | $614.99 | -1.5% | $1.57T | 21.0 | 0.3% |
Investor Checkpoints
EFIV is a representative core product that combines S&P 500 performance with ESG values, so before deciding to invest, use the key checklist below to confirm that it fits your own strategy.
| Checkpoint | What to Check | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| 📊 ESG Score | Review the sustainability ratings and score levels of the holdings | Strong |
| 💸 Expense Level | Whether costs are competitive against peer ESG and index ETFs | Top tier |
| 📈 Index Correlation | Performance gap versus the standard S&P 500 Index and degree of co-movement | Very high |
| 🚫 Sector Exclusions | Understand the scope of excluded sectors such as energy and weapons | Applied |
The ESG leaders strategy can deliver results that differ from the broad index in environments where specific industries lead the market. You should carefully judge whether your investment philosophy aligns with the non-financial value of companies.
It is a valid choice for investors who want to invest cheaply in the high-quality companies that represent the US market while supporting sustainable growth. It is an excellent product to use as a core asset anchoring a portfolio.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. All investment responsibility lies with the investor.