Skip to content

SPDW vs VGK

State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF

SPDWANYSE Arca

Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF

VGKANYSE Arca

Overlap

Expense ratio

SPDW −0.03pt a year

SPDW0.03%VGK0.06%

Avg volume · 30D

SPDW 1.3×the volume

SPDW2.99MVGK2.25M

10Y return · a year

VGK +0.2pt

SPDW+9.9%VGK+10.1%

SPDW vs VGK Performance

Nov 9, 2021 – Nov 9, 2026

+53.3%SPDW+51.4%VGK

Nov 9, 2021 to Nov 9, 2026. SPDW +53.3%. VGK +51.4%. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−20%0%20%Nov 2021May 2024Nov 2026
Expense ratio
SPDW 0.03%, better
VGK 0.06%
Fund size
SPDW $40.1B
VGK $29.6B
1Y total return
SPDW +18.5%, better
VGK +16.0%
Yield (12M)
SPDW 3.05%, better
VGK 2.87%
Holdings
SPDW 2447
VGK 1267
Avg volume (30D)
SPDW 2.99M sh, better
VGK 2.25M sh
NAV per share
SPDW $48.15
VGK $87.38
52W range

ETF.net Grade

SPDW: Cost 90, Risk 50, Mission 100, Tradability 60, Holdings 90, Durability 76. VGK: Cost 75, Risk 44, Mission 100, Tradability 48, Holdings 46, Durability 73.
Pillar letters and Scores for SPDW, VGK, with each pillar’s weight
PillarSPDWVGK
Cost30% weightA90HigherA75
Mission25% weightA100A100
Risk15% weightC50HigherC44
Tradability15% weightB60HigherC48
Holdings10% weightA90HigherC46
Durability5% weightA76HigherA73

Rank among Developed International Core funds

Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

Same Category. SPDW and VGK are both graded against the same 20 Developed International Core funds, so their Grades compare head to head.

See all 20 ›

SPDW ranks 2nd and VGK 7th of 20 funds in the Developed International Core Category.

  1. Rank 1AIDEViShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETFScore 82
  2. Rank 2ASPDWState Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETFScore 81
  3. Rank 3AVEAVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETFScore 80
  4. Rank 6ABKIEBNY Mellon International Equity ETFScore 72
  5. Rank 7AVGKVanguard FTSE Europe ETFScore 69
  6. Rank 8BIEURiShares Core MSCI Europe ETFScore 65

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

SPDWAState Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF

VGKAVanguard FTSE Europe ETF

In short

SPDW Developed markets outside the US, roughly 2,400 stocks deep, for three basis points. State Street's 2007-vintage international core: priced at the category floor and built wide rather than mega-cap-only.

VGK Most cheap international funds blend Europe with Japan, Canada and the rest. VGK is the Europe-only cut: roughly 1,200 developed European stocks, large-cap down to small-cap, for 0.06% a year.

Stated mandate

SPDW The fund seeks to provide investment results that generally correspond, before fees and expenses, to the total return performance of the S&P Developed Ex-U.S. BMI Index.

VGK The fund seeks to track the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index through passive, full replication of European common stocks across developed markets.

Why people hold it

  • SPDW 0.03% is the floor for this category. It matches VEA and SCHF penny for penny and sits far under what the typical developed-markets index fund charges.
  • Roughly 2,400 names across developed markets ex-US. The S&P Developed Ex-U.S. BMI is a broad-market index, so the sweep runs well past the household-name giants.
  • Tracking is among the tightest in its peer group, and it's a multi-billion-dollar fund that trades actively, which helps at the point of execution.
  • Trading since 2007 under one of the largest ETF issuers, a long operating history for a fund at this price point.
  • VGK 0.06% a year, one third the typical fee in its developed-international peer group.
  • All-cap and fully replicated: it owns the index's roughly 1,200 names outright rather than sampling a slice of them.
  • Tracks the FTSE Developed Europe All Cap Index tightly, one of the strongest implementations among its 26 developed-market peers.
  • Trading since 2005 and now a multi-billion-dollar fund that changes hands actively every session.

Worth knowing

  • SPDW Developed markets only. No US stocks, no emerging markets, by mandate. This is one slice of a global allocation, not the whole map.
  • Plain index exposure to foreign equities, with no hedge or defensive screen in the mandate. Overseas market swings pass straight through.
  • Distributions arrive once or twice a year rather than quarterly or monthly, so the income rhythm is lumpier than some peers.
  • VGK One region, full stop. No US, Japan or emerging markets here, so it behaves like a slice of a portfolio, not the whole thing.
  • Broad developed-market siblings like VEA, SCHF and SPDW run at 0.03%. The European focus costs a few extra basis points.
  • Income arrives quarterly, not monthly.

Full SPDW profile⁠

Full VGK profile⁠

SPDW vs VGK 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.

SPDW vs VGK Cost

Overpaying VGK vs SPDW

$632

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

  • SPDW 0.03%

    $638

  • VGK 0.06%

    $1,270

$10,000
30 years

Cost over time

  • SPDW 0.03%
  • VGK 0.06%
  • Overpaying
One line per fund, from year 0 to year 30. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$500$1K$1.5K051015202530VGK $1,270SPDW $638

Year by year

YearSPDWVGKOverpaying
10$55$110$55
20$216$432$216
30$638$1,270$632

Expense ratio

  • 0.03%SPDW, cheaper
  • 0.06%VGK
  • Middle half of Developed International Core funds
  • Median 0.10%

SPDW cheapest of 20 funds

VGK 6th cheapest of 20 funds

SPDW vs VGK Dividends

Last 12 months to Nov 9, 2026
Yield (12M)
SPDW 3.05%, better
VGK 2.87%
Payout (12M)
SPDW $1.52
VGK $2.58
Last payment
SPDW $0.72
VGK $0.22
Ex-dividend
SPDW Jun 22, 2026
VGK Sep 18, 2026
Paid on
SPDW Jun 26, 2026
VGK Sep 22, 2026
Frequency
SPDW Twice a year
VGK Quarterly

Distribution history

Per share, 2017 to 2026, same scale for both

SPDWTwice a year · 19 paymentsAll SPDW payments⁠
One bar per payment. 19 payments from 2017 to 2026 YTD. Jun 16, 2017 $0.36; Dec 15, 2017 $0.23; Jun 15, 2018 $0.53; Dec 24, 2018 $0.28; Jun 24, 2019 $0.58; Dec 23, 2019 $0.40; Jun 22, 2020 $0.31; Dec 21, 2020 $0.32; Jun 21, 2021 $0.51; Dec 20, 2021 $0.60; Jun 21, 2022 $0.59; Dec 20, 2022 $0.34; Jun 20, 2023 $0.58; Dec 18, 2023 $0.35; Jun 24, 2024 $0.62; Dec 23, 2024 $0.47; Jun 23, 2025 $0.67; Dec 22, 2025 $0.79; Jun 22, 2026 $0.72. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$12017202020232026YTD
VGKQuarterly · 39 paymentsAll VGK payments⁠
One bar per payment. 39 payments from 2017 to 2026 YTD. Mar 22, 2017 $0.28; Jun 21, 2017 $0.78; Sep 20, 2017 $0.23; Dec 19, 2017 $0.31; Mar 26, 2018 $0.28; Jun 22, 2018 $1.11; Sep 26, 2018 $0.22; Dec 24, 2018 $0.31; Mar 25, 2019 $0.31; Jun 17, 2019 $0.96; Sep 24, 2019 $0.32; Dec 23, 2019 $0.33; Mar 23, 2020 $0.25; Jun 22, 2020 $0.35; Sep 21, 2020 $0.30; Dec 21, 2020 $0.38; Mar 22, 2021 $0.27; Jun 21, 2021 $0.74; Sep 20, 2021 $0.39; Dec 20, 2021 $0.68; Mar 21, 2022 $0.14; Jun 21, 2022 $1.05; Sep 19, 2022 $0.22; Dec 19, 2022 $0.40; Mar 20, 2023 $0.21; Jun 20, 2023 $1.10; Sep 18, 2023 $0.26; Dec 18, 2023 $0.46; Mar 15, 2024 $0.37; Jun 21, 2024 $1.03; Sep 20, 2024 $0.17; Dec 20, 2024 $0.72; Mar 21, 2025 $0.29; Jun 20, 2025 $1.11; Sep 19, 2025 $0.21; Dec 19, 2025 $0.78; Mar 20, 2026 $0.38; Jun 18, 2026 $1.20; Sep 18, 2026 $0.22. Use the arrow keys to read each point.$0$12017202020232026YTD

SPDW vs VGK Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

  • SPDW
  • VGK
Nov 9, 2021 to Nov 9, 2026. Worst fall: VGK −32.5% · Sep 2022. Use the arrow keys to read each point.−30%−20%−10%0%Nov 2021May 2024Nov 2026

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years
SPDW 12.7%, betterVGK 12.9%
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years
SPDW 1.27, betterVGK 1.12
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years
SPDW −29.7%, betterVGK −32.5%
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years
SPDW 1.05VGK 0.85

SPDW and VGK in the news

Popular comparisons

  • SPDWAvsVEAA

    State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF · Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.03% · 0.03%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.
  • VGKAvsVEAA

    Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF · Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.06% · 0.03%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.
  • SPDWAvsSCHFA

    State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF · Schwab International Equity ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.03% · 0.03%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.
  • VGKAvsIEURB

    Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF · iShares Core MSCI Europe ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.06% · 0.10%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.
  • SPDWAvsIDEVA

    State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF · iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.03% · 0.04%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.
  • VGKAvsIDEVA

    Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF · iShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETF

    Expense ratio
    0.06% · 0.04%
    Category
    Same Category. Both funds are graded against the same funds, so their Grades compare head to head.