Dividend comparison
VEA vs SPDW: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF and State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
VEA vs SPDW: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. Both charge about 0.03% a year, so cost is not what separates them.
- Income. SPDW pays more income, yielding 3.06% over the last twelve months versus 2.44% for VEA. That is about $62 more a year on $10,000. VEA pays quarterly, SPDW pays annual.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, VEA returned 51.8% versus 50.0% for SPDW, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $15,183 in VEA and $15,005 in SPDW.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -29.3% for VEA and -29.8% for SPDW from peak to trough.
- Diversification. VEA holds 3,873 positions and SPDW holds 2,437. The ten largest positions make up 13.2% of VEA and 12.1% of SPDW.
- Overlap. At least 20% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 51 shared holdings. They mostly own different companies, so they can complement each other.
- Dividend growth. SPDW grew its yearly payout 7.2% a year over the last 4 years, versus 5.6% for VEA.
- Size. VEA is the larger fund with $313.5 billion in assets, against $41.0 billion for SPDW.
Bottom line: VEA fits better if you care most about broader diversification. SPDW fits better if you care most about more income today and faster dividend growth.
Side-by-side snapshot
Trailing twelve-month figures where available. Higher yield is highlighted — not a buy recommendation.
| Metric | VEA Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | SPDW State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 2.44% | 3.06% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $1.70 | $1.52 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Annual |
| Last dividend | $0.1775 on Sep 22, 2026 | $0.7220 on Jun 26, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 18, 2026 | Jun 22, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 5.6% over 4 yrs | 7.2% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $69.78 | $49.56 |
| Dividend growth streak | 1 year | 3 years |
| Beta | 0.97 | 1.03 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -29.3% | -29.8% |
| Market cap | $313.86B | $40.90B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| Assets under management | $313.50B | $41.04B |
| Number of holdings | 3873 | 2437 |
| Top 10 concentration | 13.2% | 12.1% |
Income on a $10,000 investment
Illustrative only — assumes current TTM yield stays constant. Actual distributions change.
VEA
$20.35/mo
$244 /yr at 2.44% yield
SPDW
$25.49/mo
$306 /yr at 3.06% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VEA pays quarterly; SPDW pays annual.
| Year | VEA | SPDW |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.0094 | $1.4658 |
| 2024 | $1.6042 | $1.0898 |
| 2023 | $1.5112 | $0.9343 |
| 2022 | $1.2219 | $0.9271 |
| 2021 | $1.6140 | $1.1080 |
Strategy: International equity
Funds that hold companies outside the United States, either across developed markets like Europe, Japan and Canada, across emerging markets like China, India and Taiwan, or both. Index providers disagree on edge cases such as whether South Korea is developed or emerging and whether small caps or Canada are included, which explains most of the gap between similar-looking funds. Dividend yields are usually higher than in the US market.
Returns are exposed to currency moves and to political and regulatory risk that US investors do not face at home, and emerging markets add wide swings.
Performance
Total returns with dividends reinvested, from the adjusted closing price series. $10,000 invested on Oct 20, 2021 would now be worth $15,183 in VEA and $15,005 in SPDW.
| Period | VEA | SPDW |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -2.24% | -2.33% |
| 3 months | 0.11% | 0.36% |
| Year to date | 11.70% | 11.60% |
| 1 year | 13.95% | 13.33% |
| 3 years | 76.30% | 75.99% |
| 5 years | 51.83% | 50.05% |
- VEA
- SPDW
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Sector allocation
Weight of each sector within the fund. Sectors are aligned on the same row so the two funds can be read against each other directly.
- VEA
- SPDW
VEA vs SPDW holdings overlap
At least 20% overlap by weight, with 51 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
| Largest shared holdings | VEA weight | SPDW weight |
|---|---|---|
| ROP.SWRoche Holding AG | 0.90% | 0.98% |
| RY.TORoyal Bank of Canada | 0.85% | 0.83% |
| NOVN.SWNovartis AG | 0.82% | 0.84% |
| 8306.TMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 0.78% | 0.81% |
| NESN.SWNestle SA | 0.72% | 0.79% |
| BHP.AXBHP Group Ltd | 0.66% | 0.65% |
| TD.TOToronto-Dominion Bank/The | 0.59% | 0.60% |
| 7203.TToyota Motor Corp | 0.59% | 0.72% |
| SHOP.TOShopify Inc | 0.56% | 0.64% |
| CBA.AXCommonwealth Bank of Australia | 0.54% | 0.55% |
Top 10 holdings
Largest positions by portfolio weight.
VEA3873 holdings total
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| 005930.KSSamsung Electronics Co Ltd | 2.79% |
| 000660.KSSK hynix Inc | 2.28% |
| ASML.ASASML Holding NV | 2.12% |
| HSBA.LHSBC Holdings PLC | 1.04% |
| ROP.SWRoche Holding AG | 0.90% |
| SHEL.LShell PLC | 0.85% |
| RY.TORoyal Bank of Canada | 0.85% |
| NOVN.SWNovartis AG | 0.82% |
| 8306.TMitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc | 0.78% |
| AZN.LAstraZeneca PLC | 0.74% |
SPDW2437 holdings total
Quick verdict
VEA fits better if you care most about broader diversification. SPDW fits better if you care most about more income today and faster dividend growth. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
Forecast dividend income, track payouts, and see how VEA vs SPDW fits with the rest of your holdings. Free to start — no credit card required for the trial.
Frequently asked questions
Is VEA or SPDW better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VEA currently yields 2.44% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while SPDW yields 3.06%. Higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, but may come with different risk, growth, or NAV characteristics. Compare total return and payout sustainability — not just the headline yield.
What is the difference between VEA and SPDW?
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) is an ETF listed on AMEX. State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Side-by-side metrics on this page cover yield, fees, returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history when available.
Which is cheaper, VEA or SPDW?
They cost about the same: VEA charges 0.03% a year and SPDW charges 0.03%.
Which has performed better, VEA or SPDW?
Over the last 5 years, VEA has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VEA returned 51.8% and SPDW returned 50.0%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VEA or SPDW?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, SPDW has been riskier: VEA fell as much as 29.3% and SPDW as much as 29.8%. Their betas are 0.97 and 1.03.
How much do VEA and SPDW overlap?
At least 20% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 51 shared holdings. The largest shared positions are ROP.SW, RY.TO, NOVN.SW. Holding both still adds meaningful diversification.
How often do VEA and SPDW pay dividends?
VEA pays quarterly and SPDW pays annual.
How much income does $10,000 in VEA vs SPDW generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VEA would generate roughly $20.35 per month ($244 annually). The same amount in SPDW would produce about $25.49 per month ($306 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VEA and SPDW?
Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify strategy or index exposure. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on overlapping holdings and factor exposure. Model both inside Dividend Wealth to see combined income, sector mix, and forecast impact.
Where can I compare VEA vs SPDW with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VEA and SPDW fit alongside the rest of your portfolio. A 14-day free trial of Standard is available with no credit card required; a limited Free plan is also available.
Related comparisons
For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.