VanEck Launches VEFA: ETF Built on MSCI EAFE Analyst Sentiment Factor

VEFA targets excess returns in developed international markets by using an MSCI factor based on sell-side analyst sentiment to identify companies with improving fundamentals.

NEW YORK, April 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- VanEck today announced the launch of the VanEck MSCI EAFE Analyst Sentiment ETF (VEFA), a new strategy designed to help investors access developed international equities through a differentiated, forward-looking signal.

International developed equities offer meaningful diversification benefits at a time when U.S. markets have become increasingly concentrated in a narrow group of large technology companies. The backdrop is also shifting. After a prolonged period of U.S. outperformance over the past decade, international stocks are beginning to gain ground, with the relative performance gap narrowing since late 2024. VEFA is designed to capture this opportunity by tracking the MSCI EAFE Analyst Sentiment Select Index, which draws from the approximately 800 constituents of the MSCI EAFE Index spanning 21 developed market countries, excluding the U.S. and Canada, and applies a rules-based process to overweight companies with improving analyst outlooks.

The analyst sentiment signal equally weights five analyst sentiment revision categories: earnings per share, sales, cash flow, price targets and buy/sell recommendations. Stocks are scored based on standardizing analyst sentiment indicators derived from revisions from those five categories. The index optimization process selects 100 stocks, subject to sector, country and individual security constraints which aim to limit ex-ante tracking error to 4% versus the MSCI EAFE Index. The index rebalances quarterly in line with MSCI's standard review calendar.

"VEFA builds on VanEck's history of identifying forward-looking investment signals and translating them into practical portfolio solutions," said Ed Lopez, Managing Director and Head of Product Management at VanEck. "VEFA offers investors exposure to companies with improving analyst expectations and the potential for excess returns within a core international allocation."

"Investors are increasingly seeking approaches that can help them navigate evolving market dynamics and better anticipate change across their portfolios," said Christine Berg, CFA®, Head of Americas Index for MSCI. "We're pleased to be working with VanEck to provide an index that supports a forward-looking perspective on investing in international developed markets."

Visit the VanEck MSCI EAFE Analyst Sentiment ETF (VEFA) fund page for more information, including portfolio holdings and an FAQ. The VanEck team provides regular updates and research insights on its website.

About VanEck

VanEck has a history of looking beyond the financial markets to identify trends that are likely to create impactful investment opportunities. We were one of the first U.S. asset managers to offer investors access to international markets. This set the tone for the firm's drive to identify asset classes and trends – including gold investing in 1968, emerging markets in 1993, and exchange traded funds in 2006 – that subsequently shaped the investment management industry.

Today, VanEck offers active and passive strategies with compelling exposures supported by well-designed investment processes. As of February 28, 2026, VanEck managed approximately $224.5 billion in assets, including mutual funds, ETFs and institutional accounts. The firm's capabilities range from core investment opportunities to more specialized exposures to enhance portfolio diversification. Our actively managed strategies are fueled by in-depth, bottom-up research and security selection from portfolio managers with direct experience in the sectors and regions in which they invest. Investability, liquidity, diversity, and transparency are key to the experienced decision-making around market and index selection underlying VanEck's passive strategies.

Since our founding in 1955, putting our clients' interests first, in all market environments, has been at the heart of the firm's mission.

Important Disclosures

This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities, financial instruments or digital assets mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, tax advice, or any call to action. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are for illustrative purposes only, are valid as of the date of this communication, and are subject to change without notice. Actual future performance of any assets or industries mentioned are unknown. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck or its other employees. 

An investment in the Fund may be subject to risks which include, among others, risks related to investing in foreign securities, foreign currency, financials sector, industrials sector, health care sector, special risk considerations of investing in European, Japanese and United Kingdom issuers, depositary receipts, equity securities, issuer-specific changes, medium- and large-capitalization companies, market, operational, index tracking, authorized participant concentration, new fund, no guarantee of active trading market, trading issues, passive management, fund shares trading, premium/discount, liquidity of fund shares, non-diversified, and index-related concentration risks, all of which may adversely affect the Fund. Medium-, and large-capitalization companies may be subject to elevated risks.

MSCI EAFE Index is an equity index which captures large and mid cap representation across 21 Developed Markets countries around the world, excluding the US and Canada. With 694 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in each country.

MSCI EAFE Analyst Sentiment Select Index is based on MSCI EAFE Index, its parent index which includes large and mid-cap stocks across 21 Developed Markets countries around the world, excluding the US and Canada. The index uses an optimization process that aims to maximize the exposure to the Analyst Sentiment factor, while controlling for active risk, active specific risk and net ex-ante beta relative to the parent index.

MSCI is a leading provider of critical decision support tools and services for the global investment community. With over 50 years of expertise in research, data and technology, MSCI powers better investment decisions by enabling clients to understand and analyze key drivers of risk and return and confidently build more effective portfolios. MSCI creates industry-leading research-enhanced solutions that clients use to gain insight into and improve transparency across the investment process. To learn more, please visit www.msci.com.

Investing involves substantial risk and high volatility, including possible loss of principal. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of a Fund carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus, which contain this and other information, call 800.826.2333 or visit vaneck.com. Please read the prospectus and summary prospectus carefully before investing.

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