SPDW vs VWO
State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF vs Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF
Which is better, SPDW or VWO?
SPDW has been ahead.
SPDW has a lower expense ratio. SPDW led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | SPDW | VWO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.06% |
| AUM | $42.3B | $122.0B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.02% | 2.39% |
| Holdings | 2,440 | 6,334 |
| YTD Return | +18.07%Best | +11.98% |
| 1Y Return | +29.42%Best | +22.71% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.84%Best | +18.22% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.66%Best | +6.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.6%Best | 20.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -62.2%Best | -68.3% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,858Best | $13,471 |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 20, 2007 | Mar 4, 2005 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2007 to Sep 4, 2026 (19.4 years).
SPDW vs VWO growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 19.4 years both funds cover.
SPDW vs VWO Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPDW returned +29.42% while VWO returned +22.71%. Year to date, SPDW is up 18.07% versus a gain of 11.98% for VWO.
Over three years, SPDW compounded at +20.84% per year against +18.22% for VWO; over five years the annualized figures are +9.66% and +6.14% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, SPDW has the edge at +3.22% annualized vs +2.85%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VWO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 17.6% for SPDW. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -62.2% for SPDW and -68.3% for VWO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPDW charges 0.03% per year while VWO charges 0.06%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $6 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPDW currently yields 3.02% against 2.39% for VWO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of SPDW's money is in holdings VWO also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VWO, our book for it covers 88.0% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, SPDW as of Mar 31, 2026 and VWO as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
26 positions in common, counted across the 2,345 positions we hold weights for in SPDW and 4,695 in VWO, against full books of 2,440 and 6,334.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPDW | Weight in VWO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPI:LNCapita Plc | 0.00% | 0.21% | 0.21% |
| NINV:KWNational Investments Co Kscp | 0.16% | 0.01% | 0.15% |
| 2269:HKWuxi Biologics (cayman) Inc. | 0.02% | 0.14% | 0.12% |
| WDS:AUWoodside Energy | 0.15% | 0.01% | 0.14% |
| 2379:TWDip Corp | 0.00% | 0.10% | 0.10% |
| BIMAS:TRBim Birlesik Magazalar As | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| 2492:TWInfomart Corp | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| 2331:HKLi Ning Co., Ltd. | 0.01% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| 2503:JPKirin Holdings Co. Ltd. Com | 0.04% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| 000815:SHSamsung Fire & Marine Ins-Pf | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPDW and VWO you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPDW or VWO?
SPDW has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VWO charges 0.06%. SPDW is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPDW or VWO?
Over the past year SPDW returned +29.42% vs +22.71% for VWO, so SPDW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), SPDW annualized +3.22% vs +2.85% for VWO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPDW or VWO?
VWO has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 17.6% for SPDW. Worst drawdown: SPDW -62.2% vs VWO -68.3%.
Should I hold both SPDW and VWO?
SPDW and VWO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPDW or VWO?
SPDW yields 3.02% while VWO yields 2.39%, so SPDW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VWO better than SPDW?
SPDW has a lower expense ratio. SPDW led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.