VXUS vs VEA Stock Comparison: AI Score, Valuation, Performance and Upside
VXUS and VEA are both Vanguard international equity ETFs, but VXUS includes emerging markets while VEA does not. VXUS provides complete non-US exposure (developed + emerging); VEA provides only developed market exposure. The choice is whether an investor wants the growth potential and risk of emerging markets in their international allocation.
VXUS is the complete international equity solution including emerging markets; VEA is the lower-volatility developed market alternative — the right choice depends on an investor's view on emerging market risk-return and whether they want EM exposure in their international allocation.
VXUS holds the edge across 3 of 5 key metrics in this comparison. VEA has delivered stronger 1-year price return (+21.98% vs +19.86% for VXUS).
- want complete international diversification including emerging market growth exposure
- are building a two or three-fund portfolio using VTI + VXUS as the complete global equity allocation
- believe emerging market countries like India and Taiwan will be significant long-term growth drivers
- are comfortable with additional volatility from emerging market inclusion
- want international diversification but prefer to exclude emerging market volatility and risk
- are specifically seeking European, Japanese, and Australian equity exposure
- combine VEA with a separate emerging market ETF (VWO, EEM) for a custom EM allocation
- value slightly lower cost (0.05%) and lower overall volatility versus VXUS
| Metric | VXUS | VEA |
|---|---|---|
| ETF scorei | 77.0 | 81.0 |
| Latest closei | $85.88 | $71.38 |
| 1M returni | -1.25% | -1.99% |
| 6M returni | +15.47% | +15.66% |
| 1Y returni | +19.86% | +21.98% |
The ETF score weights long-term returns and risk-adjusted performance most heavily, but still rewards low expense ratios, larger fund size, and broader diversification — so it can favor low-cost, broad, mega-cap funds over smaller thematic or actively-managed funds even when the latter have delivered stronger returns.
How much would $10,000 be worth today if invested at the start of each period, with all dividends reinvested?
| Period | VXUS | VEA |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y ago | $12.34K (+23.4%) started 2025-09-18 | $12.55K (+25.5%) started 2025-09-18 |
| 5Y ago | $18.59K (+85.9%) started 2021-09-20 | $19.22K (+92.2%) started 2021-09-20 |
| 10Y ago | $34.66K (+246.6%) started 2016-09-19 | $36.58K (+265.8%) started 2016-09-19 |
Hypothetical — past performance does not guarantee future results.
| Metric | VXUS | VEA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense ratioi | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $665.69B | $323.82B |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.51% | 2.49% |
| Trailing P/Ei | 16.40 | 16.62 |
| Betai | 0.80 | 0.87 |
| 52-week change | 19.86% | 21.98% |
| Metric | VXUS | VEA |
|---|---|---|
| 1Y returni | +19.86% | +21.98% |
| 6M returni | +15.47% | +15.66% |
| 1M returni | -1.25% | -1.99% |
| 1Y Sharpe ratio | 0.89 | 0.97 |
| Betai | 0.80 | 0.87 |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.51% | 2.49% |
| 5Y CAGR | +9.46% | +10.22% |
Over the past year, VXUS and VEA have moved strongly in the same direction (correlation of 0.99), based on daily returns.
Lower drawdown and smaller single-period drops generally indicate a smoother ride, though they do not guarantee lower future risk.
| Period | Metric | VXUS | VEA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Y | Growthi | +19.86% | +21.98% |
| CAGRi | +19.88% | +22.00% | |
| Volatilityi | 17.06% | 17.49% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.89 | 0.97 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 1.28 | 1.42 | |
| Max drawdowni | 11.27% | 11.63% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.86% | 3.27% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 1.96% | 1.94% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 3.10% | 3.14% | |
| Max daily dropi | 3.73% | 3.72% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 6.96% | 7.06% | |
| 5Y | Growthi | +57.02% | +62.58% |
| CAGRi | +9.46% | +10.22% | |
| Volatilityi | 16.36% | 16.88% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.36 | 0.40 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.52 | 0.58 | |
| Max drawdowni | 28.86% | 29.34% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.86% | 3.27% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 6.97% | 6.48% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 9.76% | 9.30% | |
| Max daily dropi | 6.11% | 6.33% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 10.82% | 10.51% | |
| 10Y | Growthi | +148.16% | +161.24% |
| CAGRi | +9.52% | +10.08% | |
| Volatilityi | 17.02% | 17.22% | |
| Sharpe ratioi | 0.36 | 0.38 | |
| Sortino ratioi | 0.49 | 0.53 | |
| Max drawdowni | 35.97% | 35.74% | |
| Current drawdowni | 2.86% | 3.27% | |
| Avg drawdowni | 7.13% | 6.51% | |
| Ulcer Indexi | 9.89% | 9.26% | |
| Max daily dropi | 11.13% | 11.18% | |
| Max wkly dropi | 20.06% | 20.94% |
| Category | VXUS | VEA |
|---|---|---|
| Fund name | Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares | Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Type | ETF | ETF |
| Expense ratioi | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Total assets (AUM)i | $665.69B | $323.82B |
| Dividend yieldi | 2.51% | 2.49% |
- Complete non-US equity market exposure including emerging markets growth potential
- 8,000+ holdings provide the broadest possible international diversification
- 0.07% expense ratio for comprehensive global coverage is extremely cost-efficient
- 0.05% expense ratio is slightly cheaper than VXUS's 0.07%
- Developed market focus reduces volatility and emerging market political/regulatory risk
- European and Japanese stocks provide developed-world diversification without China risk
- Emerging market exposure (25-30% of fund) adds political, regulatory, and currency risk
- China concentration within emerging markets creates single-country geopolitical risk
- Emerging markets can be significantly more volatile than developed markets
- No emerging market exposure misses India, Taiwan, and other high-growth developing economies
- Japan and European market exposure may underperform if those economies face structural headwinds
- Developed market equities tend to be more mature with lower long-term growth potential
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