Dividend comparison
VEA vs VWO: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF and Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
VEA vs VWO: key differences
The short answer, from the latest data on this page.
- Fees. VEA is cheaper at 0.03% a year versus 0.06% for VWO. On $10,000 that is $3 a year less in fees.
- Income. Their trailing yields are almost the same: 2.44% for VEA and 2.54% for VWO. VEA pays quarterly, VWO pays annual.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, VEA returned 51.8% versus 28.9% for VWO, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $15,183 in VEA and $12,887 in VWO.
- Risk. Their worst declines over the last 5 years were similar: -29.3% for VEA and -30.2% for VWO from peak to trough.
- Diversification. VWO holds 5,942 positions and VEA holds 3,873. The ten largest positions make up 13.2% of VEA and 27.3% of VWO.
- Dividend growth. VEA grew its yearly payout 5.6% a year over the last 4 years, versus 3.6% for VWO.
Bottom line: VEA fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. VWO fits better if you care most about broader diversification.
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 | VWO Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 2.44% | 2.54% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $1.70 | $1.48 |
| Payout frequency | Quarterly | Annual |
| Last dividend | $0.1775 on Sep 22, 2026 | $0.1137 on Sep 22, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 5.6% over 4 yrs | 3.6% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $69.78 | $58.25 |
| Dividend growth streak | 1 year | 1 year |
| Beta | 0.97 | 0.78 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -29.3% | -30.2% |
| Market cap | $313.86B | $164.76B |
| Exchange | AMEX | AMEX |
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.06% |
| Assets under management | $313.50B | $164.70B |
| Number of holdings | 3873 | 5942 |
| Top 10 concentration | 13.2% | 27.3% |
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
VWO
$21.17/mo
$254 /yr at 2.54% yield
Dividend history
Total dividends paid per share in each calendar year. VEA pays quarterly; VWO pays annual.
| Year | VEA | VWO |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.0094 | $1.4973 |
| 2024 | $1.6042 | $1.4089 |
| 2023 | $1.5112 | $1.4472 |
| 2022 | $1.2219 | $1.6037 |
| 2021 | $1.6140 | $1.2994 |
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 $12,887 in VWO.
| Period | VEA | VWO |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -2.24% | -2.93% |
| 3 months | 0.11% | 0.74% |
| Year to date | 11.70% | 8.68% |
| 1 year | 13.95% | 8.25% |
| 3 years | 76.30% | 66.91% |
| 5 years | 51.83% | 28.87% |
- VEA
- VWO
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
- VWO
VEA vs VWO holdings overlap
At least 0% overlap by weight, with 0 holdings in common. Overlap adds up the smaller of the two weights for every stock both funds own, so 100% would mean identical portfolios.
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% |
VWO5942 holdings total
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| 2330.TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 15.72% |
| 0700.HKTencent Holdings Ltd | 2.81% |
| 9988.HKAlibaba Group Holding Ltd | 2.11% |
| 2454.TWMediaTek Inc | 1.87% |
| 2308.TWDelta Electronics Inc | 0.94% |
| 0939.HKChina Construction Bank Corp | 0.91% |
| 2317.TWHon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd | 0.79% |
| HDFCBANK.BOHDFC Bank Ltd | 0.78% |
| HDFCBANK.NSHDFC Bank Ltd | 0.70% |
| RELIANCE.BOReliance Industries Ltd | 0.69% |
Quick verdict
VEA fits better if you care most about lower fees, stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. VWO fits better if you care most about broader diversification. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Still deciding? Compare them in your portfolio
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Frequently asked questions
Is VEA or VWO better for dividend income?
It depends on your goals. VEA currently yields 2.44% Trailing Twelve Months (TTM) while VWO yields 2.54%. 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 VWO?
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) is an ETF listed on AMEX. Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) 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 VWO?
VEA has the lower expense ratio. VEA charges 0.03% a year and VWO charges 0.06%, a difference of $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which has performed better, VEA or VWO?
Over the last 5 years, VEA has the higher total return with dividends reinvested: VEA returned 51.8% and VWO returned 28.9%. Past performance does not predict future returns.
Which is riskier, VEA or VWO?
Measured by the worst peak-to-trough decline over the last five years, VWO has been riskier: VEA fell as much as 29.3% and VWO as much as 30.2%. Their betas are 0.97 and 0.78.
How often do VEA and VWO pay dividends?
VEA pays quarterly and VWO pays annual.
How much income does $10,000 in VEA vs VWO generate?
At current TTM yields, $10,000 in VEA would generate roughly $20.35 per month ($244 annually). The same amount in VWO would produce about $21.17 per month ($254 annually). Actual payouts vary with distribution changes and reinvestment.
Can I hold both VEA and VWO?
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 VWO with my full portfolio?
Create a free Dividend Wealth account to import or enter holdings, forecast dividend income, and see how VEA and VWO 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.
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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.