ETF Versus

VEA vs VIG

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares vs Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares

Last updated: 2026-04-02

VEA Vanguard

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares (VEA) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to equities in developed international markets outside the U.S.. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.03%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 2.88%. Launched in 2007, the fund has a 19-year track record.

AUM: $198.8B ER: 0.03% Yield: 2.88% Since: Jul 20, 2007
VIG Vanguard

Vanguard Dividend Appreciation Index Fund ETF Shares (VIG) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to U.S. dividend-paying stocks selected for yield or dividend growth. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.04%. The fund offers a moderate dividend yield of 1.60%. Launched in 2006, the fund has a 20-year track record.

AUM: $97.2B ER: 0.04% Yield: 1.60% Since: Apr 21, 2006

Quick Verdict

Both funds have nearly identical expense ratios (0.03% vs 0.04%), so fees are not a differentiator here. Over the past year, VEA has significantly outperformed with a 27.7% return vs 11.4%. Income investors may prefer VEA for its higher yield (2.9% vs 1.6%).

Key Metrics

Metric VEA VIG
Expense Ratio 0.03% 0.04%
Dividend Yield 2.9% 1.6%
Fund Family Vanguard Vanguard
Category International Developed US Dividend

Performance Chart

Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)

70 87 104 121 138 155 2021-04 2022-06 2023-09 2024-12 2026-04
VEA +29.0%
VIG +43.7%

Performance Comparison

Period VEA VIG Difference
1 Month -5.61% -5.05% -0.56%
3 Months +3.07% -2.23% +5.30%
6 Months +6.68% -0.97% +7.65%
YTD +3.07% -2.23% +5.30%
1 Year +27.70% +11.38% +16.32%
3 Years +43.04% +39.10% +3.94%
5 Years +28.99% +43.71% -14.72%

Fee Impact Over Time

Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns

Investment Period VEA Fees VIG Fees You Save
$10.000 10 years $60 $80 $20
$10.000 20 years $258 $344 $86
$10.000 30 years $835 $1.112 $277
$50.000 10 years $299 $399 $100
$50.000 30 years $4.176 $5.560 $1.385
$100.000 30 years $8.352 $11.121 $2.769

Risk Metrics

Based on 5 years of daily returns

Metric VEA VIG
Annualized Volatility 16.4% 14.3%
Max Drawdown -32.3% -21.5%
Sharpe Ratio 0.12 0.27

Dividend Comparison

Metric VEA VIG
Annual Dividend (per share) $1.88 $3.45
Dividend Yield 2.88% 1.60%
Distribution Frequency Quarterly Quarterly

Top Holdings

0 of top 9 holdings overlap (0% overlap in top holdings)

VEA Top Holdings

NameWeight
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.!krx/0059302.18%
ASML Holding N.V.!ams/ASML1.77%
SK hynix Inc.!krx/0006601.24%
Roche Holding AGROC1.L1.03%
Novartis AG!swx/NOVN1.00%
HSBC Holdings plc!lon/HSBA0.99%
AstraZeneca PLC!lon/AZN0.98%
Nestlé S.A.!swx/NESN0.86%
Toyota Motor Corporation!tyo/72030.80%

VIG Top Holdings

NameWeight
Broadcom Inc.AVGO5.92%
Apple Inc.AAPL3.89%
Eli Lilly and CompanyLLY3.70%
Microsoft CorporationMSFT3.45%
JPMorgan Chase & Co.JPM3.42%
Exxon Mobil CorporationXOM2.87%
Johnson & JohnsonJNJ2.65%
Walmart Inc.WMT2.48%
Visa Inc.V2.23%
Costco Wholesale CorporationCOST1.98%

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose VEA if...

recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.

Choose VEA if...

you prioritize dividend income and want higher regular distributions from your portfolio.

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