VEU vs VOO
Vanguard FTSE All World Ex US ETF vs Vanguard S&P 500 ETF
Which is better, VEU or VOO?
Each has led over a different period.
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VEU led over 1Y, VOO over 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 | VEU | VOO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.04% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $68.4B | $997.4B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.48% | 1.04% |
| Holdings | 3,928 | 509 |
| YTD Return | +13.28%Best | +11.98% |
| 1Y Return | +20.82%Best | +16.45% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.49% | +21.19%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.02% | +12.95%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0% | 14.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.1% | -34.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,400 | $18,384Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 2, 2007 | Sep 7, 2010 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2010 to Sep 14, 2026 (16 years).
VEU vs VOO 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 16 years both funds cover.
VEU vs VOO Performance
Vanguard FTSE All World Ex US ETF (VEU) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VEU returned +20.82% while VOO returned +16.45%. Year to date, VEU is up 13.28% versus a gain of 11.98% for VOO.
Over three years, VEU compounded at +19.49% per year against +21.19% for VOO; over five years the annualized figures are +9.02% and +12.95% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VOO has the edge at +13.37% annualized vs +5.33%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VEU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 14.1% for VOO. 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 -39.1% for VEU and -34.3% for VOO. 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
VEU charges 0.04% per year while VOO charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $4 vs $3 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VEU currently yields 2.48% against 1.04% for VOO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of VOO's money is in holdings VEU also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VEU, 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.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 3,645 positions we hold weights for in VEU and 494 in VOO, against full books of 3,928 and 509.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VEU and VOO 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, VEU or VOO?
VEU has an expense ratio of 0.04% while VOO charges 0.03%. VOO is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VEU or VOO?
Over the past year VEU returned +20.82% vs +16.45% for VOO, so VEU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VEU annualized +5.33% vs +13.37% for VOO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VEU or VOO?
VEU has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 14.1% for VOO. Worst drawdown: VEU -39.1% vs VOO -34.3%.
Should I hold both VEU and VOO?
VEU and VOO 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, VEU or VOO?
VEU yields 2.48% while VOO yields 1.04%, so VEU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VOO better than VEU?
VOO has a lower expense ratio. VEU led over 1Y, VOO over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.