Head-to-head over the 11-year window both funds have in common (2015-07-27 → 2026-07-24): 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 | 8.5% | 8.1% |
| Volatility | 17.5% | 17.4% |
| Sharpe | 0.55 | 0.53 |
| Sortino | 0.69 | 0.67 |
| Max drawdown | -35.7% | -36.0% |
| Dividend yield | 2.60% | 2.62% |
| $10k → today | $24,462 | $23,473 |
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.