SPEU vs VTI
State Street SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, SPEU or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPEU is less concentrated, with 17.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | SPEU | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $705M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.32% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,737 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +4.07% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.74% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.69% | +23.41%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.89% | +12.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.5% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,309 | $18,286Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 17.8%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 15, 2002 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 21, 2002 to Oct 2, 2026 (23.9 years).
SPEU vs VTI 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 23.9 years both funds cover.
SPEU vs VTI Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Europe ETF (SPEU) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPEU returned +9.74% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, SPEU is up 4.07% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, SPEU compounded at +18.69% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.89% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 24-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.98% annualized vs +3.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPEU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% compared with 15.0% for VTI. 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 -64.5% for SPEU and -56.6% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPEU charges 0.07% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $3 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPEU currently yields 3.32% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.3% of SPEU's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.3% of VTI's money is in holdings SPEU also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, SPEU as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
10 positions in common, counted across the 1,632 positions we hold weights for in SPEU and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,737 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,141 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for SPEU (97.1% of the fund), and 29 for SPEU that do not appear in VTI (7.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPEU | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORAOrange - Adr | 0.22% | 0.01% | 0.21% |
| ADPAutomatic Data Processing, Inc. | 0.02% | 0.15% | 0.13% |
| ICEInternational Exchange, Inc. | 0.00% | 0.12% | 0.12% |
| AMAntero Midstream Corporationam | 0.04% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| CCCSCcc Intelligent Solutions Hold | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| FRCommon Stock Eur1.0 | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| AMGAffiliated Managers Group Inc. | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| BILLBill.Com Holdings, Inc. Common Stock | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| BIOBio-Rad Laboratories-A Common Stock | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| SMGScotts Miracle-Gro Company | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPEU and VTI 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, SPEU or VTI?
SPEU has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPEU or VTI?
Over the past year SPEU returned +9.74% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (24 years), SPEU annualized +3.82% vs +9.98% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPEU or VTI?
SPEU has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 15.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: SPEU -64.5% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both SPEU and VTI?
SPEU and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, SPEU or VTI?
SPEU yields 3.32% while VTI yields 1.03%, so SPEU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than SPEU?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. SPEU is less concentrated, with 17.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.