ESGD vs VSGX: Grades, Fees and Holdings Compared

iShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF

ESGDANasdaq

Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF

VSGXACboe

Overlap

34.6%by weight

Expense ratio

VSGX −0.10pt a year

ESGD0.20%VSGX0.10%

Avg volume · 30D

ESGD 1.9×the volume

ESGD309KVSGX166K

5Y return · a year

ESGD +0.8pt

ESGD+8.2%VSGX+7.4%

ESGD vs VSGX Performance

Oct 29, 2021 – Oct 30, 2026

+48.2%ESGD+43.0%VSGX

Expense ratio: ESGD 0.20%; VSGX 0.10%, better
Fund size: ESGD $11.8B; VSGX $6.7B
1Y total return: ESGD +13.0%; VSGX +14.4%, better
Yield (12M): ESGD 3.33%, better; VSGX 3.11%
Holdings: ESGD 349; VSGX 6667
Avg volume (30D): ESGD 309K sh, better; VSGX 166K sh
NAV per share: ESGD $102.56; VSGX $77.91
52W range

ETF.net Grade

Pillar letters and Scores for ESGD, VSGX, with each pillar’s weight
Pillar	ESGD	VSGX
Cost30% weight	B68	A100Higher
Mission25% weight	A100	A100
Risk15% weight	B55Higher	C49
Tradability15% weight	A91Higher	B64
Holdings10% weight	A77Higher	B60
Durability5% weight	A95Higher	A92

Rank among International ESG & Values Index funds

How we build Categories ›

Same Category. ESGD and VSGX are both graded against the same 18 International ESG & Values Index funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

International ESG & Values Index⁠

Category · 18 funds

See all 18 ›

VSGX ranks 1st and ESGD 2nd of 18 funds in the International ESG & Values Index Category.

Rank 1AVSGXVanguard ESG International Stock ETFScore 82
Rank 2AESGDiShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETFScore 79
Rank 3ADMXFiShares ESG Advanced MSCI EAFE ETFScore 76

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

ESGDAiShares ESG Aware MSCI EAFE ETF

VSGXAVanguard ESG International Stock ETF

In short

ESGD The plain-vanilla international index fund, ESG-screened. Roughly 400 developed-market stocks from outside the US and Canada, tracking an MSCI EAFE ESG Focus index since 2016, for 0.20% a year.

VSGX Most ex-US ESG funds stop at big developed-market names. VSGX casts a wider net: large, mid and small caps across developed and emerging markets, minus the industries its index screens out, for 0.10% a year.

Stated mandate

ESGD The fund seeks to track an index of international developed-market stocks outside the United States and Canada that have positive aggregate environmental, social, and governance characteristics.

VSGX The Fund seeks to track an index of large-, mid-, and small-capitalization stocks from developed and emerging markets outside the United States, subject to environmental, social, and corporate-governance screening.

Why people hold it

ESGD Costs 0.20% a year, below the typical fee in its international ESG peer group.
Roughly 400 stocks spanning developed markets outside the US and Canada: broad-market coverage, not a narrow thematic bet.ishares.com
Tracks the MSCI EAFE Extended ESG Focus Index, keeping the familiar developed-markets shape while tilting toward companies with better aggregate ESG characteristics.ishares.com
A multi-billion-dollar fund trading since 2016, and one of the sturdier builds in its peer group.

VSGX 0.10% a year, well under half the typical fee in its international ESG peer group. Vanguard's usual move: undercut the room.
Reaches past the usual EAFE box, holding thousands of stocks across developed and emerging markets. EAFE-based rivals like ESGD and DMXF cover developed large and mid caps only.msci.com
The screen is FTSE's rulebook, not Vanguard's opinion: out go fossil fuel reserves, weapons, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, adult entertainment and nuclear power, plus conduct flags.ftserussell.com
What survives the screen stays market-cap weighted, with no factor tilts or manager stock picks. Distributions land quarterly.lseg.com

Worth knowing

ESGD Cheaper tickets exist on the same shelf: VSGX at 0.10%, iShares' own DMXF at 0.12%. The fee here buys scale, not the lowest sticker.
The ESG screen leaves holdings different from a plain EAFE fund, so results can drift from the unscreened index in either direction.
Moderately traded rather than one of the busiest tapes in the category, and distributions land once or twice a year rather than monthly.

VSGX Cutting oil, gas, coal, nuclear and weapons names removes whole slices of the market, so results can drift from a plain ex-US index in either direction.ftserussell.com
Emerging markets, small caps and foreign currency all ride along, which can mean wider swings than a developed large-cap-only ex-US fund.
It de-selects rather than rewards: clearing the screen isn't the same as being a sustainability leader, and there's no carbon or Paris-alignment target.lseg.com

Full ESGD profile⁠

Full VSGX profile⁠

ESGD vs VSGX Holdings

How ESGD and VSGX differ

Overlap by weight

34.6%

Shared holdings make up 71.4% of ESGD and 35.1% of VSGX.

Level by level

Holdings239 in both34.6%
Countryby domicile54.2%
Sector11 Sectors78.7%
Asset classEquity100%

Sector

Sector weights in ESGD and VSGX, widest gap first
Sector	More in ESGDMore in VSGX	ESGD	VSGX
Technology	VSGX +17.1 points	11.0%	28.1%
Industrials	ESGD +10.4 points	18.6%	8.2%
Energy	ESGD +4.2 points	4.3%	0.1%
Utilities	ESGD +3.2 points	3.8%	0.6%
Consumer Staples	ESGD +2.0 points	6.7%	4.7%
Financials	VSGX +1.9 points	26.4%	28.3%
Health Care	ESGD +1.6 points	10.6%	9.0%
Real Estate	VSGX +1.0 points	1.7%	2.7%
Communication	VSGX +0.6 points	3.6%	4.2%
Materials	VSGX +0.4 points	5.6%	6.0%
Consumer Discretionary	VSGX +0.4 points	7.8%	8.2%

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Country weights in ESGD and VSGX, widest gap first
Country	More in ESGDMore in VSGX	ESGD	VSGX
Taiwan	VSGX +12.4 points	0.0%	12.4%
United Kingdom	ESGD +8.5 points	14.4%	5.9%
South Korea	VSGX +8.0 points	0.0%	8.0%
Japan	ESGD +7.6 points	24.7%	17.1%
China	VSGX +6.8 points	0.0%	6.8%
Canada	VSGX +6.4 points	0.0%	6.4%
France	ESGD +5.9 points	8.8%	2.9%
Switzerland	ESGD +5.4 points	10.7%	5.3%
Other countries (30)	ESGD +6.2 points	41.5%	35.3%

Outside the US: ESGD 100% developed, 0% emerging. VSGX 61% developed, 39% emerging.

Concentration

Weight in the 10 largest Holdings

ESGD14.4%
VSGX18.1%

Securities held

ESGD332
VSGX6,625

Asset class

ESGD: Equity
VSGX: Equity

Holdings

Only in ESGD93
In both239
Only in VSGX6,386

Only in ESGD

93 securities, 27.9% of ESGD by weight

Hsbc Holdings PLC1.36%
Shell1.21%
Siemens N AG1.11%
Totalenergies0.95%
Abb Ltd0.94%
Bhp Group Ltd0.89%
Iberdrola0.84%
Itochu0.78%
Hitachi0.74%
National Grid PLC0.70%
Schneider Electric0.69%
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC0.57%
Bae Systems PLC0.55%
Diageo PLC0.46%
Siemens Energy N AG0.41%
Lvmh0.41%
Bp PLC0.40%
Mitsubishi0.38%
Sse PLC0.38%
Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA0.37%
Marubeni0.36%
Smiths Group PLC0.36%
Eneos Holdings0.36%
Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gese0.35%
Airbus Group0.34%
Kerry Group PLC0.31%
Sika AG0.30%
Holcim Ltd AG0.30%
Adidas N AG0.30%
Aristocrat Leisure0.29%
Spotify Technology0.28%
Endesa SA0.28%
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries0.28%
Mitsubishi Electric0.27%
Equinor0.27%
Woodside Energy Group Ltd0.27%
Rheinmetall AG0.27%
Heineken NV0.27%
Enel0.25%
Edp Energias De Portugal0.25%
Eiffage SA0.23%
Galp Energia Sgps SA Class B0.23%
Glencore PLC0.23%
Repsol0.22%
Dassault Systemes0.21%
Aib Group PLC0.21%
Naturgy Energy Group SA0.20%
Safran SA0.20%
Engie SA0.20%
Obayashi0.19%

Only in VSGX

6,386 securities, 64.6% of VSGX by weight

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd5.79%
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd2.76%
SK hynix Inc2.26%
SLCMT11421.12%
Royal Bank of Canada0.84%
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd0.78%
MediaTek Inc0.69%
Shopify Inc0.55%
Delta Electronics Inc0.41%
Bank of Montreal0.36%
Samsung Electronics-Pref0.35%
Bank of Nova Scotia/The0.34%
China Construction Bank Corp0.34%
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce0.31%
Hon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd0.29%
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd0.28%
HDFC Bank Ltd0.26%
Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd0.24%
SK Square Co Ltd0.23%
ICICI Bank Ltd0.22%
ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd0.22%
Manulife Financial Corp0.22%
Investor AB0.21%
L'Oreal SA0.19%
Nordea Bank Abp0.19%
Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co Ltd0.19%
Wheaton Precious Metals Corp0.18%
Pdd Holdings Inc0.18%
Bharti Airtel Ltd0.17%
United Microelectronics Corp0.17%
Xiaomi Corp0.17%
National Bank of Canada0.17%
Bank of China Ltd0.16%
Basf SE0.15%
Meituan0.15%
Al Rajhi Bank0.15%
Unimicron Technology Corp0.15%
Volvo AB0.14%
Itau Unibanco Holding S-Pref0.14%
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd0.14%
Ferrari NV0.14%
Elite Material Co Ltd0.14%
Celestica Inc0.14%
NetEase Inc0.13%
SoftBank Corp0.13%
Sun Life Financial Inc0.13%
KB Financial Group Inc0.13%
Ping An Insurance Group Co of China Ltd0.13%
MS&AD Insurance Group Holdings Inc0.12%
Anglogold Ashanti Plc0.12%

Weight gaps

The 100 widest of 239 Holdings in both funds.

Holding weights in ESGD and VSGX, widest gap first
Holding	More in ESGDMore in VSGX	ESGD	VSGX
Asml Holding	ESGD +0.94 points	3.04%	2.10%
Novartis AG	ESGD +0.82 points	1.63%	0.81%
Sap	ESGD +0.71 points	1.33%	0.62%
Intesa Sanpaolo	ESGD +0.57 points	0.92%	0.35%
Commonwealth Bank of Australia	ESGD +0.54 points	1.07%	0.53%
Allianz	ESGD +0.51 points	1.05%	0.54%
Toyota Motor	ESGD +0.46 points	1.04%	0.58%
Bridgestone	ESGD +0.44 points	0.52%	0.08%
Nestle SA	ESGD +0.44 points	1.15%	0.71%
Roche Ps Par AG	ESGD +0.44 points	1.33%	0.89%
Sony Group	ESGD +0.43 points	0.86%	0.43%
Unilever PLCULVR.L	ESGD +0.42 points	0.81%	0.39%
Loreal SA	ESGD +0.42 points	0.53%	0.11%
Astrazeneca PLCAZN.L	ESGD +0.41 points	1.15%	0.74%
Zurich Insurance Group AG	ESGD +0.41 points	0.71%	0.30%
Lonza Group AG	ESGD +0.38 points	0.53%	0.15%
Axa SA	ESGD +0.38 points	0.62%	0.24%
Telia Company	ESGD +0.37 points	0.40%	0.03%
Bnp Paribas SA	ESGD +0.36 points	0.68%	0.32%
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group	ESGD +0.37 points	0.85%	0.48%
Kddi	ESGD +0.36 points	0.52%	0.16%
Henkel AG	ESGD +0.35 points	0.37%	0.02%
Daiwa Securities Group Inc	ESGD +0.35 points	0.40%	0.05%
Koninklijke Kpn NV	ESGD +0.34 points	0.39%	0.05%
Transurban Group Stapled Units	ESGD +0.33 points	0.42%	0.09%
Recruit Holdings Ltd	ESGD +0.33 points	0.77%	0.44%
Givaudan SA	ESGD +0.33 points	0.42%	0.09%
Ing Groep	ESGD +0.32 points	0.63%	0.31%
Dbs Group Holdings Ltd	ESGD +0.32 points	0.69%	0.37%
Caixabank SA	ESGD +0.31 points	0.47%	0.16%
Boliden	ESGD +0.30 points	0.34%	0.04%
Merck	ESGD +0.29 points	0.35%	0.06%
Secom	ESGD +0.28 points	0.33%	0.05%
Ana Holdings	ESGD +0.28 points	0.29%	<0.01%
Assicurazioni Generali	ESGD +0.28 points	0.42%	0.14%
Bank Hapoalim Bm	ESGD +0.28 points	0.38%	0.10%
Alcon AG	ESGD +0.28 points	0.37%	0.09%
Svenska Cellulosa B	ESGD +0.27 points	0.29%	0.02%
Aia Group	ESGD +0.27 points	0.56%	0.29%
National Australia Bank	ESGD +0.26 points	0.52%	0.26%
Hoya	ESGD +0.26 points	0.41%	0.15%
Aviva PLCAV.L	ESGD +0.26 points	0.34%	0.08%
Swiss Prime Site AG	ESGD +0.26 points	0.29%	0.03%
Informa PLCINF.L	ESGD +0.25 points	0.29%	0.04%
Amadeus It Group	ESGD +0.24 points	0.32%	0.08%
Sandvik	ESGD +0.24 points	0.36%	0.12%
Takeda Pharmaceutical	ESGD +0.24 points	0.42%	0.18%
Yamaha Motor	ESGD +0.24 points	0.27%	0.03%
Roche Holding AG	ESGD +0.24 points	0.28%	0.04%
Sekisui House	ESGD +0.24 points	0.28%	0.04%
Tokyo Electron	ESGD +0.24 points	0.74%	0.50%
Relx PLCREL.L	ESGD +0.23 points	0.41%	0.18%
Danone SA	ESGD +0.23 points	0.36%	0.13%
Advantest	ESGD +0.23 points	0.72%	0.49%
Kesko Class B	ESGD +0.23 points	0.25%	0.02%
Boc Hong Kong Holdings Ltd	ESGD +0.22 points	0.29%	0.07%
Oriental Land	ESGD +0.22 points	0.28%	0.06%
Unibail Rodamco We Stapled Units	ESGD +0.21 points	0.25%	0.04%
Rexel SA	ESGD +0.21 points	0.24%	0.03%
Tokio Marine Holdings	ESGD +0.21 points	0.50%	0.29%
Fanuc Corp	ESGD +0.21 points	0.32%	0.11%
Mizuho Financial Group	ESGD +0.21 points	0.61%	0.40%
London Stock Exchange Group PLCLSEG.L	ESGD +0.21 points	0.36%	0.15%
Swiss Re AG	ESGD +0.21 points	0.36%	0.15%
Getlink	ESGD +0.20 points	0.22%	0.02%
Sanofi SA	ESGD +0.20 points	0.47%	0.27%
Sino Land Ltd	ESGD +0.20 points	0.22%	0.02%
Kingfisher PLCKGF.L	ESGD +0.20 points	0.22%	0.02%
Orkla	ESGD +0.20 points	0.22%	0.02%
Mowi	ESGD +0.20 points	0.23%	0.03%
Qbe Insurance Group	ESGD +0.20 points	0.27%	0.07%
Akzo Nobel NV	ESGD +0.20 points	0.23%	0.03%
Kbc Groep	ESGD +0.19 points	0.29%	0.10%
Brambles	ESGD +0.18 points	0.24%	0.06%
Asahi Kasei	ESGD +0.18 points	0.22%	0.04%
Westpac Banking Corporation	ESGD +0.19 points	0.44%	0.25%
Computershare Ltd	ESGD +0.18 points	0.23%	0.05%
Ubs Group AG	ESGD +0.18 points	0.63%	0.45%
Sonova Holding AG	ESGD +0.18 points	0.22%	0.04%
Moncler	ESGD +0.18 points	0.20%	0.03%
Societe Generale SA	ESGD +0.17 points	0.33%	0.16%
Novo Nordisk Class B	ESGD +0.16 points	0.53%	0.37%
Nec	ESGD +0.17 points	0.28%	0.11%
The Sage GroupSGE.L	ESGD +0.16 points	0.20%	0.04%
Segro Reit PLCSGRO.L	ESGD +0.16 points	0.21%	0.05%
Sampo Class A	ESGD +0.16 points	0.23%	0.07%
Bank of Ireland Group PLC	ESGD +0.16 points	0.22%	0.06%
Acciona	ESGD +0.16 points	0.18%	0.02%
Yokohama Financial Group	ESGD +0.15 points	0.19%	0.04%
Kuehne Und Nagel International AG	ESGD +0.15 points	0.19%	0.04%
Singapore Exchange	ESGD +0.16 points	0.20%	0.04%
Mtr Corporation	ESGD +0.15 points	0.17%	0.02%
Credit Agricole SA	ESGD +0.16 points	0.21%	0.05%
Meridian Energy Ltd	ESGD +0.16 points	0.17%	0.01%
Deutsche Boerse AG	ESGD +0.15 points	0.33%	0.18%
Fujitsu	ESGD +0.15 points	0.28%	0.13%
Daiichi Life Group	ESGD +0.15 points	0.27%	0.12%
Lloyds Banking Group PLCLLOY.L	ESGD +0.15 points	0.40%	0.25%
Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing	ESGD +0.14 points	0.32%	0.18%
Hulic	ESGD +0.14 points	0.16%	0.02%

All 330 ESGD holdings⁠All 6,429 VSGX holdings⁠

How we measure overlap

Each holding counts at its smaller weight in the two funds, summed over the full Holdings. Sector, country and asset class use the same rule on each fund’s split. Cash, FX and derivative lines stay out of the counts. Two bond funds get no overlap figure.

ESGD vs VSGX Cost

Overpaying ESGD vs VSGX

$2,049

On $10,000 over 30 years. 7% growth a year before fees, expense ratio only.

ESGD 0.20%
$4,155
VSGX 0.10%
$2,106

Amount$10,000

Years30 years

Cost over time

ESGD 0.20%
VSGX 0.10%
Overpaying

Year by year

Year	ESGD	VSGX	Overpaying
10	$365	$183	$182
20	$1,421	$717	$704
30	$4,155	$2,106	$2,049

Expense ratio

0.20%ESGD
0.10%VSGX, cheaper

VSGX0.10%ESGD0.20%

0.10%0.95%

Middle half of International ESG & Values Index funds
Median 0.23%

VSGX cheapest of 18 funds

ESGD 6th cheapest of 18 funds

ESGD vs VSGX Dividends

Last 12 months to Oct 30, 2026

Yield (12M): ESGD 3.33%, better; VSGX 3.11%
Payout (12M): ESGD $3.42; VSGX $2.43
Last payment: ESGD $1.63; VSGX $0.47
Ex-dividend: ESGD Jun 15, 2026; VSGX Sep 18, 2026
Paid on: ESGD Jun 18, 2026; VSGX Sep 22, 2026
Frequency: ESGD Twice a year; VSGX Quarterly

Distribution history

Per share, 2017 to 2026, same scale for both

ESGDTwice a year · 20 paymentsAll ESGD payments⁠

VSGXQuarterly · 31 paymentsAll VSGX payments⁠

ESGD vs VSGX Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

ESGD
VSGX

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years: ESGD 11.7%, betterVSGX 12.8%
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years: ESGD 1.18VSGX 1.20, better
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years: ESGD −29.9%, betterVSGX −31.2%
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years: ESGD 0.80VSGX 0.97; Market = 1

ESGD and VSGX in the news

All news⁠

ETF Filings
Calamos to liquidate its Giannis Antetokounmpo sustainable ETF
Sep 11, 2026VSGX

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ESGD vs VSGX

In short

Stated mandate

Why people hold it

Worth knowing

How ESGD and VSGX differ

Level by level

Sector

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Concentration

Asset class

Holdings

Only in ESGD

Only in VSGX

Weight gaps

Cost over time

Year by year

Distribution history

Fall from peak · 5 years

Risk facts

Calamos to liquidate its Giannis Antetokounmpo sustainable ETF

How ESGD and VSGX differ

Level by level

Sector

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Concentration

Asset class

Holdings

Only in ESGD

Only in VSGX

Weight gaps