VWO — Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund

VWO Price Performance — Growth of $10,000

Value of a $10,000 investment in VWO over time, compared with SPY. Both lines are rebased to $10,000 on the first shared date. Based on total returns — prices are adjusted for dividends and splits, so this assumes distributions were reinvested. Hover or tap the chart for exact values.

VWO Drawdown

The "underwater" chart: VWO's decline from its highest prior value at each point in time. It shows how deep past losses ran and how long the fund took to recover to break-even.

Overview

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund (Ticker: VWO) is an Emerging Markets ETF managed by Vanguard, a well-respected issuer in the industry. With an overall rank of #156 out of 458 tracked ETFs, it holds a moderate position in the rankings. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.06%, indicating it is relatively cost-effective for investors. It also offers a dividend yield of 1.87%, providing a modest income stream. The fund's price stands at $60.45, and it manages an asset under management (AUM) of $162B, suggesting strong investor adoption and a significant presence in the market. Given its position in the top 10% of the category, it appears to be a popular choice among investors seeking exposure to emerging markets.

Over the past year, VWO has delivered a strong performance with a return of 20.78%, and over the past three years, it has seen a remarkable gain of 62.91%. The fund's returns have been relatively consistent across different time horizons, with a 1-month return of 4.04% and a 3-month return of 3.10%. However, the 1-day return of +0.72% and the 1-week return of +0.57% suggest some short-term volatility. The trend indicates a steady upward trajectory, with the 1-year return being significantly higher than the 3-month and 1-month returns, indicating a potential acceleration in growth over the longer term.

Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund has a volatility label of 'Moderate', suggesting it experiences fluctuations but not extreme ones. With a beta of 0.77, the fund is less sensitive to market movements compared to the broader market, implying it may offer some protection during downturns. The Sharpe ratio of 0.90 indicates a good risk-adjusted return, meaning the fund provides a reasonable return for the level of risk taken. The maximum drawdown of -17.37% reflects the fund's potential for significant losses during market downturns, but it is within a moderate range. Overall, these figures suggest that VWO is a balanced investment, offering a mix of growth and stability, suitable for investors who are willing to accept some market risk for the potential for higher returns.

AI-generated summary based on the data on this page.

VWO Top Holdings

Holdings as of 2026-04-30 per the fund's most recent SEC N-PORT-P filing. Top 10 holdings make up 29.5% of net assets — a rough gauge of concentration risk (the higher this figure, the more the fund's return depends on a handful of names). To see how VWO's holdings overlap with other ETFs you own or are considering, check the Stock Overlap tool.

Which Funds Overlap With VWO

Holding two funds that own the same companies adds cost and complexity without adding much diversification. These tracked ETFs share the most names with VWO's top 10 — SPEM overlaps most, holding 8 of the same companies as VWO's top 10 (25.2% of VWO's assets).

Compares the top 10 reported holdings of each fund, so it's a floor on true overlap — two S&P 500 trackers overlap ~100% even when only 10 names are listed. Use the Stock Overlap tool to search by individual company.

Market Backdrop

10-Year Treasury Yield: 4.69% (as of 2026-08-20) — 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): 16.01 (as of 2026-08-20) — 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 2026-07-01) — The Federal Reserve’s target policy rate, which anchors short-term borrowing costs across the economy.

Trade-Weighted US Dollar Index: 118.90 (as of 2026-08-14) — 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 Liquidity, Domicile & Tax Treatment

Liquidity: Quoted bid/ask spread is 0.15% and average daily volume is 8.0M/day. Tighter spreads and higher volume mean lower round-trip trading costs; this is a live-market snapshot and can widen during volatile sessions. AUM of $162B provides ample scale, supporting tight spreads and issuer commitment to keep the fund open.

Domicile & tax treatment: VWO is a US-domiciled, SEC-registered ('40 Act) exchange-traded fund. Dividends and capital gains distributions are reported to US investors on Form 1099-DIV, and the fund is not subject to the PFIC reporting or UCITS-specific rules that apply to Irish- or Luxembourg-domiciled funds. Non-US investors should note that US-domiciled ETFs are generally subject to 30% US withholding tax on dividends (unless reduced by treaty) and to US estate tax exposure on the position — Irish-domiciled UCITS ETFs tracking the same index often avoid both, which is why non-US residents frequently prefer the UCITS equivalent where one exists. This is general information, not tax advice — consult a tax professional for your situation.

VWO Performance History

How VWO Compares to Other Emerging Markets ETFs