VEA vs VXUS: Which ETF Is Better in 2026?
A metric-by-metric comparison of Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets Index Fund ETF Shares (VEA) and Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares (VXUS) — both International Developed / Global Multi-Region funds — using ETFValuer's daily-updated rankings.
Educational content — not financial advice. Data as of July 5, 2026. ~5 minute read.
The Verdict
On ETFValuer's overall model — which blends return, risk-adjusted performance, cost, drawdown, size and volatility — VEA scores higher: 80.4 (Grade B+) versus 78.4 for VXUS. That doesn't make VXUS a bad fund; it means VEA currently edges it out on this specific mix of factors. Read the metric-by-metric breakdown below before deciding which matters more for your own portfolio.
Head-to-Head: Every Metric
| VEA | VXUS | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | International Developed | Global Multi-Region |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Fund size (AUM) | $317.3B | $652.3B |
| Dividend yield | 2.61% | 2.66% |
| 1-year return | +27.89% | +26.33% |
| 3-year return | +71.08% | +67.93% |
| Volatility | 16.83% | 16.35% |
| Max drawdown | -13.45% | -13.58% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.36 | 1.30 |
| ETFValuer score | 80.4 | 78.4 |
| Grade | B+ | B+ |
| Rank (of ~150) | #6 | #12 |
Bold marks the better value in each row. "Better" is directional only (e.g. lower cost, higher return) — it isn't a recommendation by itself. See the full methodology.
Cost
On cost, the two are essentially tied — VEA charges 0.03% a year versus VXUS's 0.05%. A difference this small (about $2.00 a year on a $10,000 position) isn't a reason to choose one fund over the other.
Performance & Risk
Over the trailing 3 years, VEA returned +71.08% versus +67.93% for VXUS — a gap of about 3.1 percentage points. On risk, VEA has held up better historically, with a shallower max drawdown (-13.45% vs. -13.58%). VEA currently has the better risk-adjusted return (Sharpe ratio of 1.36 vs. 1.30), meaning it delivered more return per unit of volatility taken on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is VEA or VXUS better?
On ETFValuer's overall model — which blends return, risk-adjusted performance, cost, drawdown, size and volatility — VEA scores higher: 80.4 (Grade B+) versus 78.4 for VXUS. That doesn't make VXUS a bad fund; it means VEA currently edges it out on this specific mix of factors. Read the metric-by-metric breakdown below before deciding which matters more for your own portfolio.
Which has the lower expense ratio, VEA or VXUS?
VEA currently has the lower expense ratio (0.03% vs. 0.05%).
Can I hold both VEA and VXUS?
Yes — VEA (International Developed) and VXUS (Global Multi-Region) sit in different categories, so combining them can be a reasonable way to diversify rather than a redundant overlap.
Go deeper on either fund
Full daily-updated metrics, holdings context, and category peers.