VDIGX vs VEA
Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund Investor Class vs Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF
Which is better, VDIGX or VEA?
VEA has been ahead.
VEA has a lower expense ratio. VEA 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 | VDIGX | VEA |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $35.5B | $230.3B |
| Dividend Yield | 23.10% | 2.49% |
| Holdings | 62 | 3,886 |
| YTD Price Return | -3.99% | +12.94%Best |
| 1Y Price Return | -14.10% | +18.55%Best |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | -3.79% | +16.42%Best |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | -3.26% | +6.93%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.0%Best | 16.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.6% | -31.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,473 | $13,980Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 1992 | Jul 20, 2007 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for VDIGX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. VDIGX yields 23.10% and VEA 2.49% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 20, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (5 years).
VDIGX vs VEA 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 5 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
VDIGX vs VEA Performance
Vanguard Dividend Growth Fund Investor Class (VDIGX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VDIGX returned -14.10% while VEA returned +18.55%. Year to date, VDIGX is down 3.99% versus a gain of 12.94% for VEA.
Over three years, VDIGX compounded at -3.79% per year against +16.42% for VEA; over five years the annualized figures are -3.26% and +6.93% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VEA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 16.0% for VDIGX. 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 -32.6% for VDIGX and -31.6% for VEA. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VDIGX charges 0.20% per year while VEA charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $3 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VDIGX currently yields 23.10% against 2.49% for VEA.
Structure and taxes
VDIGX is a mutual fund and VEA is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.2% of VDIGX's money is in holdings VEA also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VEA, our book for it covers 94.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VDIGX and VEA share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in VDIGX and 3,754 in VEA, against full books of 62 and 3,886.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VDIGX and VEA 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, VDIGX or VEA?
VDIGX has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VEA charges 0.03%. VEA is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VDIGX or VEA?
Over the past year VDIGX returned -14.10% vs +18.55% for VEA, so VEA leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VDIGX or VEA?
VEA has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 16.0% for VDIGX. Worst drawdown: VDIGX -32.6% vs VEA -31.6%.
Should I hold both VDIGX and VEA?
VDIGX and VEA have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between VDIGX and VEA?
At least 2.2% of VDIGX's money is in holdings VEA also owns. Our book for VEA is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in VDIGX and 3,754 in VEA.
Which pays a higher dividend, VDIGX or VEA?
VDIGX yields 23.10% while VEA yields 2.49%, so VDIGX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold VDIGX or VEA in a taxable account?
VEA is an ETF and VDIGX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VEA better than VDIGX?
VEA has a lower expense ratio. VEA 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.