What Is DBEF? Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF
Last updated July 2026
Short answer
DBEF is Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF, an ETF that tracks a developed-markets ex-US equity index at a 0.35% expense ratio. DBEF tracks a developed-markets ex-US equity index. It launched in 2011. The distribution yield is about 2.30%. At 0.35% it costs more than the typical foreign large-blend fund, nearer 0.24%. Holdings are spread widely, with the ten largest coming to about 13% of assets.
DBEF is issued by Xtrackers and tracks a developed-markets ex-US equity index. It charges a 0.35% expense ratio, holds approximately $9.0B in assets under management, yields about 2.30%, and launched in 2011.
What is DBEF?
DBEF is Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF, an ETF that tracks a developed-markets ex-US equity index at a 0.35% expense ratio. DBEF tracks a developed-markets ex-US equity index. It launched in 2011. The distribution yield is about 2.30%. At 0.35% it costs more than the typical foreign large-blend fund, nearer 0.24%. Holdings are spread widely, with the ten largest coming to about 13% of assets.
DBEF is issued by Xtrackers and tracks a developed-markets ex-US equity index, so a single ticker gives you the whole portfolio of underlying holdings weighted by the index's methodology rather than by any active stock-picking.
What does DBEF hold?
DBEF is weighted toward its largest constituents. As of August 2026, the top holdings are:
| Rank | Ticker | Company | % of DBEF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ASML Holding NV | 3.3% | ||
| 2 | HSBC Holdings PLC | 1.4% | ||
| 3 | Roche Holding AG Ordinary Shares new | 1.2% | ||
| 4 | Novartis AG Registered Shares | 1.2% | ||
| 5 | AstraZeneca PLC | 1.2% | ||
| 6 | Nestle SA | 1.1% | ||
| 7 | Siemens AG | 1.0% | ||
| 8 | Shell PLC | 0.9% | ||
| 9 | Tokyo Electron Ltd | 0.9% | ||
| 10 | Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 0.9% |
The remaining holdings make up the balance of the fund, with weights tapering off below the top names. Because the index reconstitutes on a rolling basis, the roster stays current without active management. Each ticker above links to its individual stock guide in Walnut.
How do I invest in DBEF?
There are three common ways to get DBEF exposure. Buy shares (or fractional shares) of DBEF directly at any major broker that lists it. Hold it as a core position and layer more concentrated ideas on top. Or build it into a thematic portfolio in Walnut, so DBEF sits alongside other holdings that express the same thesis, with target weights you can rebalance toward. DBEF trades like a stock during market hours, so you buy it the same way you would any listed share.
New to buying funds? See how to buy an ETF, step by step.
Is DBEF a good buy?
Whether DBEF is a good buy depends less on any single call and more on your time horizon and what you already hold: it tracks a developed-markets ex-US equity index, so the real question is whether you want that exposure in your mix and at what weight. We walk through valuation, concentration, and what would have to be true for it to outperform from here in is DBEF a buy?
The bottom line on DBEF
DBEF gives you a developed-markets ex-US equity index exposure in one ticker at a 0.35% expense ratio. Most investors use it as a core holding and layer more concentrated thematic portfolios on top.
More on DBEF
Whether DBEF is worth buying today depends more on your time horizon and what you already hold than on any single call. We walk through valuation, concentration, and what would have to be true for it to outperform from here in is DBEF a buy?
DBEF yields 2.30% as of August 2026, paid by passing through the dividends of its underlying holdings. For the payout schedule, history, and how the distributions are taxed, see DBEF dividend: yield and schedule.
New to funds like DBEF? Start with what an ETF is, then how to buy an ETF, or browse the full guide to ETF investing.
Wondering how DBEF fits the portfolio you already own? Walnut is an AI investing app that connects your brokerage read-only and answers questions like that about your actual holdings: overlap, concentration, and how each position tracks the S&P 500. Compare the best AI portfolio analyzers or see the best AI investing apps in 2026.
Investing in DBEF with AI
Connect the broker you already use and ask Walnut's AI how DBEF fits what you actually hold: what it overlaps with, what it leaves you exposed to, and how it has tracked the S&P 500. Read-only by default, and you approve anything before it reaches your broker.
FAQ
What is DBEF's ticker symbol?
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DBEF, Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF. Issued by Xtrackers; tracks a developed-markets ex-US equity index. Trades during US market hours, available at every major US brokerage.
What is DBEF's expense ratio?
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0.35% as of August 2026.
What are DBEF's top holdings?
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Top holdings as of August 2026: , , , , and others. See the full holdings table above.
How can I invest in DBEF through Walnut?
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Walnut isn't a broker. Connect a brokerage and Walnut sits on top to help you build and track thematic portfolios. DBEF can be a constituent alongside individual stocks.
How do I compare DBEF to similar ETFs?
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Put a few fields side by side: the expense ratio (fees compound over decades), the index or strategy it tracks, the top holdings and how much they overlap with what you already own, the dividend yield, and the AUM, liquidity, and bid-ask spread that affect trading costs. For index funds, tracking error (how closely it follows its index) and tax efficiency matter too. DBEF's figures are above; the full method is in Walnut's guide on how to compare ETFs.
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Walnut is informational, not investment advice. Holdings weights and fund statistics on this page are approximations stamped to August 2026; verify current figures against Xtrackers's fund page or your broker before investing.