Head-to-head over the 11-year window both funds have in common (2015-10-26 → 2026-10-23): VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) vs VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock ETF) — total return with dividends reinvested, both starting at $10,000 on the same date.
On risk-adjusted return, VEA came out ahead of VXUS —
but the gap is only half the story. Drawdown and yield often matter more.
VEA vs VXUS — the numbers
| Metric | VEA | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| CAGR | 8.6% | 8.2% |
| Volatility | 17.3% | 17.2% |
| Sharpe | 0.56 | 0.55 |
| Sortino | 0.70 | 0.68 |
| Max drawdown | -35.7% | -36.0% |
| Dividend yield | 2.47% | 2.41% |
| $10k → today | $24,780 | $23,796 |
Compared over the exact period both funds existed, so the window is shorter than 10 years when one fund is newer. Past performance doesn't predict the future — try your own dates in the tool.