VWO — Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund
Emerging Markets Ranked #43 of 120 tracked ETFs · Issued by Vanguard
Overview
The Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund, trading under the ticker VWO, operates within the Emerging Markets category tracked by ETFValuer, which currently includes four ETFs. Issued by Vanguard, this fund has accumulated assets under management of $163 billion, reflecting significant investor adoption relative to its peers. It holds an overall rank of #43 out of 120 tracked ETFs across all categories and has received an ETFValuer grade of B with a score of 69.4 out of 100. The fund charges an expense ratio of 0.06%, positioning it as a low-cost option for exposure to emerging markets equities. Investors receive a dividend yield of 1.91% while the current share price stands at $59.17. The substantial asset base and competitive fee structure suggest the fund is a widely utilized vehicle for accessing this specific asset class.
Over the most recent trading day, the fund posted a gain of +0.49%, following a weekly decline of -0.87%. Monthly performance showed a recovery with a +2.09% return, which accelerated significantly over the three-month period to +9.52%. This upward momentum continued into the six-month horizon with a +7.14% return, while year-to-date gains reached +7.85%. The one-year return was notably strong at +22.84%, and the three-year cumulative return stands at +53.57%. The data indicates a pattern where short-term fluctuations have been overshadowed by sustained positive returns over longer investment horizons.
The fund carries a Moderate volatility label and exhibits a beta of 0.78, suggesting its price movements are generally less sensitive to broad market swings than the average asset. A Sharpe ratio of 1.05 indicates that the fund has generated a favorable risk-adjusted return relative to the volatility experienced. Despite these metrics, the maximum drawdown recorded is -17.37%, highlighting the potential for significant temporary losses during market downturns. The combination of a beta below 1.0 and a moderate volatility classification implies the fund may offer some buffer during market declines while still participating in upside trends. The Sharpe ratio of 1.05 suggests that the returns achieved have historically compensated investors well for the level of risk taken, even accounting for the observed drawdown.
AI-generated summary based on the data on this page.
VWO Top Holdings
| # | Holding | % of Net Assets | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 14.61% | $23.4B |
| 2 | Tencent Holdings Ltd | 3.26% | $5.21B |
| 3 | Vanguard Cmt Funds-Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund | 2.83% | $4.53B |
| 4 | Alibaba Group Holding Ltd | 2.55% | $4.08B |
| 5 | Vanguard Cmt Funds-Vanguard Market Liquidity Fund | 1.44% | $2.31B |
| 6 | Delta Electronics Inc | 1.17% | $1.87B |
| 7 | MediaTek Inc | 1.06% | $1.69B |
| 8 | Reliance Industries Ltd | 0.90% | $1.43B |
| 9 | China Construction Bank Corp | 0.85% | $1.37B |
| 10 | HDFC Bank Ltd | 0.80% | $1.28B |
Holdings as of 2026-04-30 per the fund's most recent SEC N-PORT-P filing.
Market Backdrop
10-Year Treasury Yield: 4.55% (as of 2026-07-07) — The yield on 10-year US Treasury bonds — the standard "risk-free rate" benchmark used to contextualize this fund’s Sharpe ratio and returns.
CBOE Volatility Index (VIX): 16.13 (as of 2026-07-07) — A real-time gauge of expected S&P 500 volatility over the next 30 days — useful context for this fund’s own volatility label.
Federal Funds Rate: 3.63% (as of 2026-06-01) — The Federal Reserve’s target policy rate, which anchors short-term borrowing costs across the economy.
Trade-Weighted US Dollar Index: 120.69 (as of 2026-07-02) — Measures the US dollar’s strength against major trading-partner currencies — dollar moves directly affect the US-dollar value of this fund’s international holdings.
VWO Performance History
| Period | Return |
|---|---|
| 1-Day | +0.49% |
| 1-Week | -0.87% |
| 1-Month | +2.09% |
| 3-Month | +9.52% |
| 6-Month | +7.14% |
| YTD | +7.85% |
| 1-Year | +22.84% |
| 3-Year | +53.57% |
How VWO Compares to Other Emerging Markets ETFs
| Rank | Grade | Ticker | Name | 1-Year | Exp. Ratio | AUM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #8 | B+ |
IEMG | iShares Core MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | +37.83% | 0.09% | $161B |
| #23 | B |
EEM | iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | +40.48% | 0.72% | $30.3B |
| #43 | B |
VWO | Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund | +22.84% | 0.06% | $163B |
| #47 | B |
SPEM | State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF | +23.44% | 0.07% | $17.3B |