VEA vs VGK: Grades, Fees and Holdings Compared

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF

VEAANYSE Arca

Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF

VGKANYSE Arca

Overlap

48.1%by weight

Expense ratio

VEA −0.03pt a year

VEA0.03%VGK0.06%

Avg volume · 30D

VEA 4.5×the volume

VEA10.2MVGK2.25M

10Y return · a year

VGK +0.2pt

VEA+9.9%VGK+10.1%

VEA vs VGK Performance

Nov 9, 2021 – Nov 9, 2026

+54.3%VEA+51.4%VGK

Expense ratio: VEA 0.03%, better; VGK 0.06%
Fund size: VEA $232B; VGK $29.6B
1Y total return: VEA +18.4%, better; VGK +16.0%
Yield (12M): VEA 2.44%; VGK 2.87%, better
Holdings: VEA 3947; VGK 1267
Avg volume (30D): VEA 10.2M sh, better; VGK 2.25M sh
NAV per share: VEA $67.77; VGK $87.38
52W range

ETF.net Grade

Pillar letters and Scores for VEA, VGK, with each pillar’s weight
Pillar	VEA	VGK
Cost30% weight	A90Higher	A75
Mission25% weight	A100	A100
Risk15% weight	C48Higher	C44
Tradability15% weight	B60Higher	C48
Holdings10% weight	A78Higher	C46
Durability5% weight	A87Higher	A73

Rank among Developed International Core funds

How we build Categories ›

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

Developed International Core⁠

Category · 20 funds

See all 20 ›

VEA ranks 3rd and VGK 7th of 20 funds in the Developed International Core Category.

Rank 1AIDEViShares Core MSCI International Developed Markets ETFScore 82
Rank 2ASPDWState Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETFScore 81
Rank 3AVEAVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETFScore 80
Rank 4ASCHFSchwab International Equity ETFScore 79
Rank 6ABKIEBNY Mellon International Equity ETFScore 72
Rank 7AVGKVanguard FTSE Europe ETFScore 69
Rank 8BIEURiShares Core MSCI Europe ETFScore 65

Our read on each fund

ETF.net Research

VEAAVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF

VGKAVanguard FTSE Europe ETF

In short

VEA Everything developed outside the US in one line item: roughly 3,900 stocks across Canada, Europe and the Pacific, small caps included. Vanguard has run it since 2007 at three basis points.

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

VEA Seeks to track the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index through an indexing strategy investing substantially all assets in the index’s large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks across Canada, Europe, and the Pacific region.

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

VEA Charges 0.03% a year against a 0.18% median for its peer group. Low cost is the whole point of index exposure, and this sits at the cheap end of it.
The index reaches down to small caps and keeps Canada in, so you own about 3,900 companies across Canada, Europe and the Pacific, not just the mega-cap layer.vanguard.com
Tracks its FTSE benchmark closely and trades in heavy volume, which keeps the spread to get in or out slim, whether the order is small or institutional.
Live since 2007 and one of the largest international stock funds on the market. Distributions come quarterly.

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

VEA Developed markets only, and no US stocks. Emerging markets and the home market sit outside the mandate entirely.vanguard.com
The 0.03% fee is matched, not owned: SPDW and SCHF price the same and IDEV is a hair above. The separator here is index construction, not cost.
Plain index exposure, no buffer or downside protection. Foreign markets and the small-cap sleeve can swing hard, and the fund holds the full ride.

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 VEA profile⁠

Full VGK profile⁠

VEA vs VGK Holdings

How VEA and VGK differ

Overlap by weight

48.1%

Shared holdings make up 99.8% of VGK and 48.9% of VEA.

Level by level

Holdings1,239 in both48.1%
Countryby domicile48.2%
Sector11 Sectors88.8%
Asset classStocks100%

Sector

Sector weights in VEA and VGK, widest gap first
Sector	Gap	VEA	VGK
Technology	VEA +7.3 points	16.7%	9.4%
Health Care	VGK +4.3 points	7.8%	12.1%
Consumer Staples	VGK +2.3 points	5.2%	7.5%
Materials	VEA +1.9 points	7.3%	5.4%
Industrials	VGK +1.8 points	17.7%	19.5%
Utilities	VGK +1.4 points	3.0%	4.4%
Financials	VGK +1.1 points	24.3%	25.4%
Real Estate	VEA +0.9 points	2.3%	1.4%
Communication	VEA +0.7 points	3.5%	2.8%
Energy	VGK +0.5 points	5.1%	5.5%
Consumer Discretionary	VEA +0.4 points	7.0%	6.6%

Country, concentration and asset class

Country by domicile

Country weights in VEA and VGK, widest gap first
Country	Gap	VEA	VGK
Japan	VEA +21.9 points	21.9%	0.0%
United Kingdom	VGK +11.9 points	11.1%	23.0%
Canada	VEA +10.8 points	10.8%	0.0%
South Korea	VEA +9.2 points	9.2%	0.0%
Switzerland	VGK +7.1 points	6.6%	13.7%
France	VGK +7.0 points	6.6%	13.6%
Germany	VGK +6.7 points	6.2%	12.9%
Australia	VEA +5.6 points	5.6%	0.0%
Other countries (17)	VGK +14.8 points	22.0%	36.8%

Outside the US: VEA 89% developed, 11% emerging. VGK 98% developed, 2% emerging.

Concentration

Weight in the 10 largest Holdings

VEA13.5%
VGK19.0%

Securities held

VEA3,921
VGK1,255

Asset class

VEA: Stocks
VGK: Stocks

Holdings

Only in VEA2,682
In both1,239
Only in VGK16

Only in VEA

2,682 securities, 51.3% of VEA by weight

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd2.80%
SK hynix Inc2.28%
Royal Bank of Canada0.85%
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc0.78%
BHP Group Ltd0.66%
Toronto-Dominion Bank/The0.60%
Toyota Motor Corp0.59%
Shopify Inc0.56%
Commonwealth Bank of Australia0.54%
Tokyo Electron Ltd0.51%
Advantest Corp0.49%
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group Inc0.49%
Hitachi Ltd0.47%
SoftBank Group Corp0.47%
Recruit Holdings Co Ltd0.44%
Sony Group Corp0.43%
Kioxia Holdings Corp0.41%
Mizuho Financial Group Inc0.40%
DBS Group Holdings Ltd0.38%
Bank of Montreal0.36%
Samsung Electronics-Pref0.35%
Bank of Nova Scotia/The0.34%
Enbridge Inc0.32%
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce0.31%
AIA Group Ltd0.30%
Canadian Natural Resources Ltd0.30%
Mitsubishi Corp0.29%
Keyence Corp0.29%
Tokio Marine Holdings Inc0.29%
Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd0.29%
ITOCHU Corp0.27%
Murata Manufacturing Co Ltd0.27%
National Australia Bank Ltd0.26%
Westpac Banking Corp0.26%
Fast Retailing Co Ltd0.25%
Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp Ltd0.25%
Suncor Energy Inc0.25%
ANZ Group Holdings Ltd0.25%
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd0.25%
Mitsui & Co Ltd0.24%
Brookfield Corp0.23%
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd0.23%
SK Square Co Ltd0.23%
TOPIX INDX FUTR Dec260.22%
Manulife Financial Corp0.22%
Shin-Etsu Chemical Co Ltd0.21%
Barrick Mining Corp0.21%
Mitsubishi Electric Corp0.20%
Panasonic Holdings Corp0.20%
Canadian National Railway Co0.20%

Only in VGK

16 securities, 0.9% of VGK by weight

MSCI Europe Dec260.58%
Shell PLC0.15%
Eur/Usd Fwd 202610020.05%
Gbp/Usd Fwd 202610020.03%
Stellantis NV0.02%
Chf/Usd Fwd 202610020.02%
Sek/Usd Fwd 20261002<0.01%
Dkk/Usd Fwd 20261002<0.01%
Tieto Oyj<0.01%
Nok/Usd Fwd 20261002<0.01%
Forvia SE<0.01%
Abivax Sa-Adr<0.01%
Pln/Usd Fwd 20261002<0.01%
Borr Drilling Ltd0.00%
Ncc Ab0.00%
Finablr PLC0.00%

Weight gaps

The 100 widest of 1,239 Holdings in both funds.

Holding weights in VEA and VGK, widest gap first
Holding	Gap	VEA	VGK
ASML Holding NV	VGK +2.32 points	2.13%	4.45%
HSBC Holdings PLCHSBA.L	VGK +1.14 points	1.04%	2.18%
Roche Holding AG	VGK +0.98 points	0.90%	1.88%
Novartis AG	VGK +0.89 points	0.82%	1.71%
AstraZeneca PLCAZN.L	VGK +0.81 points	0.74%	1.56%
Nestle SA	VGK +0.78 points	0.72%	1.50%
Shell PLCSHEL.L	VGK +0.78 points	0.85%	1.63%
Siemens AG	VGK +0.76 points	0.69%	1.45%
Sap SE	VGK +0.68 points	0.63%	1.31%
Banco Santander SA	VGK +0.67 points	0.62%	1.29%
SLBBH1142	VEA +0.62 points	1.06%	0.44%
Allianz SE	VGK +0.60 points	0.55%	1.15%
Schneider Electric SE	VGK +0.60 points	0.55%	1.15%
TotalEnergies SE	VGK +0.58 points	0.53%	1.11%
Rolls-Royce Holdings PLCRR.L	VGK +0.54 points	0.50%	1.04%
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA	VGK +0.53 points	0.48%	1.01%
Iberdrola SA	VGK +0.52 points	0.48%	1.00%
UBS Group AG	VGK +0.49 points	0.46%	0.95%
ABB Ltd	VGK +0.49 points	0.45%	0.94%
UniCredit SpA	VGK +0.44 points	0.41%	0.85%
Safran SA	VGK +0.43 points	0.40%	0.83%
Unilever PLCULVR.L	VGK +0.42 points	0.39%	0.81%
Airbus SE	VGK +0.42 points	0.39%	0.81%
Siemens Energy AG	VGK +0.41 points	0.37%	0.78%
Novo Nordisk A/S	VGK +0.41 points	0.37%	0.78%
Bp PLCBP.L	VGK +0.39 points	0.35%	0.74%
Intesa Sanpaolo SpA	VGK +0.38 points	0.35%	0.73%
Cie Financiere Richemont SA	VGK +0.38 points	0.35%	0.73%
British American Tobacco PLCBATS.L	VGK +0.37 points	0.34%	0.71%
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE	VGK +0.37 points	0.33%	0.70%
BNP Paribas SA	VGK +0.35 points	0.32%	0.67%
ING Groep NV	VGK +0.35 points	0.31%	0.66%
Deutsche Telekom AG	VGK +0.34 points	0.31%	0.65%
Zurich Insurance Group AG	VGK +0.33 points	0.31%	0.64%
Rio Tinto PLCRIO.L	VGK +0.32 points	0.30%	0.62%
Gsk PLCGSK.L	VGK +0.32 points	0.30%	0.62%
Sanofi SA	VGK +0.30 points	0.27%	0.57%
Infineon Technologies AG	VGK +0.29 points	0.27%	0.56%
Eur/Usd Fwd 20261216	VGK +0.28 points	0.24%	0.52%
Lloyds Banking Group PLCLLOY.L	VGK +0.28 points	0.25%	0.53%
Barclays PLCBARC.L	VGK +0.27 points	0.25%	0.52%
Axa SA	VGK +0.26 points	0.24%	0.50%
National Grid PLCNG.L	VGK +0.26 points	0.23%	0.49%
BAE Systems PLCBA.L	VGK +0.26 points	0.23%	0.49%
L'Oreal SALRLCY	VGK +0.25 points	0.20%	0.45%
Enel SpA	VGK +0.25 points	0.23%	0.48%
Air Liquide SA	VGK +0.25 points	0.23%	0.48%
Glencore PLCGLEN.L	VGK +0.25 points	0.23%	0.48%
NatWest Group PLCNWG.L	VGK +0.25 points	0.22%	0.47%
Muenchener Rueckversicherungs-Gesellschaft AG in Muenchen	VGK +0.24 points	0.22%	0.46%
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV	VGK +0.24 points	0.21%	0.45%
Industria de Diseno Textil SA	VGK +0.22 points	0.21%	0.43%
Investor AB	VGK +0.22 points	0.22%	0.44%
Nordea Bank Abp	VGK +0.21 points	0.20%	0.41%
Deutsche Bank AG	VGK +0.21 points	0.19%	0.40%
Argenx SE	VGK +0.21 points	0.18%	0.39%
Dhl AG	VGK +0.20 points	0.18%	0.38%
Deutsche Boerse AG	VGK +0.20 points	0.18%	0.38%
EURO STOXX 50 Dec26	VEA +0.19 points	0.26%	0.07%
Anglo American PLCAAL.L	VGK +0.20 points	0.18%	0.38%
Vinci SA	VGK +0.20 points	0.18%	0.38%
Relx PLCREL.L	VGK +0.19 points	0.18%	0.37%
Standard Chartered PLCSTAN.L	VGK +0.18 points	0.16%	0.34%
Bayer AG	VGK +0.18 points	0.16%	0.34%
CaixaBank SA	VGK +0.18 points	0.16%	0.34%
Societe Generale SA	VGK +0.18 points	0.16%	0.34%
Atlas Copco AB	VGK +0.17 points	0.16%	0.33%
Hermes International SCA	VGK +0.17 points	0.16%	0.33%
Nokia Oyj	VGK +0.17 points	0.16%	0.33%
Basf SEBAS.F	VGK +0.17 points	0.15%	0.32%
Compass Group PLCCPG.L	VGK +0.17 points	0.15%	0.32%
London Stock Exchange Group PLCLSEG.L	VGK +0.17 points	0.15%	0.32%
Eni SpA	VGK +0.17 points	0.15%	0.32%
Rheinmetall AG	VGK +0.17 points	0.15%	0.32%
Volvo AB	VGK +0.16 points	0.16%	0.32%
Swiss Re AG	VGK +0.16 points	0.15%	0.31%
Rwe AG	VGK +0.16 points	0.15%	0.31%
EssilorLuxottica SA	VGK +0.16 points	0.15%	0.31%
Lonza Group AG	VGK +0.16 points	0.15%	0.31%
Diageo PLCDGE.L	VGK +0.16 points	0.15%	0.31%
Prosus NV	VGK +0.16 points	0.15%	0.31%
ASM International NV	VGK +0.16 points	0.14%	0.30%
Generali	VGK +0.16 points	0.14%	0.30%
Ferrari NV	VGK +0.16 points	0.14%	0.30%
Reckitt Benckiser Group PLCRKT.L	VGK +0.14 points	0.13%	0.27%
E.on SE	VGK +0.14 points	0.13%	0.27%
Danone SA	VGK +0.14 points	0.13%	0.27%
Prysmian SpA	VGK +0.13 points	0.13%	0.26%
Legrand SA	VGK +0.14 points	0.12%	0.26%
Sse PLCSSE.L	VGK +0.14 points	0.12%	0.26%
Holcim AG	VGK +0.14 points	0.12%	0.26%
Haleon PLCHLN.L	VGK +0.14 points	0.12%	0.26%
Erste Group Bank AG	VGK +0.13 points	0.12%	0.25%
Sandvik AB	VGK +0.13 points	0.12%	0.25%
Tesco PLCTSCO.L	VGK +0.13 points	0.12%	0.25%
Galderma Group AG	VGK +0.13 points	0.11%	0.24%
Repsol SA	VGK +0.12 points	0.11%	0.23%
Danske Bank A/S	VGK +0.12 points	0.11%	0.23%
Sika AG	VGK +0.12 points	0.11%	0.23%
Cie de Saint-Gobain SA	VGK +0.12 points	0.11%	0.23%

All 3,903 VEA holdings⁠All 1,243 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.

VEA vs VGK Cost

Overpaying VGK vs VEA

$632

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

VEA 0.03%
$638
VGK 0.06%
$1,270

Amount$10,000

Years30 years

Cost over time

VEA 0.03%
VGK 0.06%
Overpaying

Year by year

Year	VEA	VGK	Overpaying
10	$55	$110	$55
20	$216	$432	$216
30	$638	$1,270	$632

Expense ratio

0.03%VEA, cheaper
0.06%VGK

VEA0.03%VGK0.06%

0.03%0.70%

Middle half of Developed International Core funds
Median 0.10%

VEA cheapest of 20 funds

VGK 6th cheapest of 20 funds

VEA vs VGK Dividends

Last 12 months to Nov 9, 2026

Yield (12M): VEA 2.44%; VGK 2.87%, better
Payout (12M): VEA $1.70; VGK $2.58
Last payment: VEA $0.18; VGK $0.22
Ex-dividend: VEA Sep 18, 2026; VGK Sep 18, 2026
Paid on: VEA Sep 22, 2026; VGK Sep 22, 2026
Frequency: VEA Quarterly; VGK Quarterly

Distribution history

Per share, 2017 to 2026, same scale for both

VEAQuarterly · 39 paymentsAll VEA payments⁠

VGKQuarterly · 39 paymentsAll VGK payments⁠

VEA vs VGK Risk

Fall from peak · 5 years

Risk facts

VolatilityStd dev, 3 years: VEA 12.9%VGK 12.9%
Return per unit of riskSharpe ratio, 3 years: VEA 1.25, betterVGK 1.12
Worst fallMax drawdown, 5 years: VEA −29.2%, betterVGK −32.5%
Market sensitivityBeta, 5 years: VEA 0.97VGK 0.85; Market = 1

VEA and VGK in the news

All news⁠

Deep Dive
Hedged Japan funds rose 0.7% as the yen fell; VGK dropped 1.8%
Sep 20, 2026VEAVGK
Deep Dive
Unhedged Japan funds rose 0.3% on the yen; VGK fell 1.9% after the ECB hike
Sep 13, 2026VEAVGK
Deep Dive
Unhedged Japan rose 2.5% on the yen; Europe funds slipped
Sep 5, 2026VEAVGK
Head-to-Head
VEA over SCHF if this is your only developed-markets fund
Nov 4, 2026VEA
Best ETFs
Best international ETFs: one cheap fund, then the Korea choice
Updated Nov 2, 2026VEA
Best ETFs
Vanguard's total international fund is the one-fund pick, and Korea splits the rest
Updated Oct 2, 2026VEA

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VEA vs VGK

In short

Stated mandate

Why people hold it