Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (VGS.AX)

Search for stocks, ETFs, and funds for a quick comparison or use the comparison tool for more options.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (VGS.AX) is up 5.3% since the beginning of the year. VGS.AX is currently trading at A$161 per share. Investors who bought A$1,000 worth of VGS.AX shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth A$1,801.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (VGS.AX) has returned 5.31% so far this year and 13.66% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, VGS.AX has had an annualized return of 13.63%, just under the S&P 500 Index benchmark’s 14.27%.

Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Nov 18, 2014, VGS.AX's average daily return is +0.05%, while the average monthly return is +1.08%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 5.4 years.

Historically, 62% of months were positive and 38% were negative. The best month was Oct 2015 with a return of +8.6%, while the worst month was Feb 2020 at -7.9%. The longest winning streak lasted 8 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 5 months.

On a daily basis, VGS.AX closed higher 53% of trading days. The best single day was Apr 10, 2025 with a return of +6.0%, while the worst single day was Feb 6, 2018 at -5.5%.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF has an annualized alpha of 11.62%, beta of 0.11, and R2 of 0.02 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since November 18, 2014.

• This ETF participated in 97.92% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 92.08% of its upside - more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
• Beta of 0.11 may look defensive, but with R2 of 0.02 this ETF is largely uncorrelated with S&P 500 Index - low beta reflects independence, not downside protection. See the Volatility section for a true picture of this ETF's risk.
• R2 of 0.02 means this ETF moves largely independently of S&P 500 Index - capture ratios reflect limited market correlation rather than active downside protection. Consider using a more representative benchmark.

VGS.AX has an expense ratio of 0.18%, which is considered low.

VGS.AX ranks 42 for risk / return — on par with similar ETFs. You're getting a typical balance of risk and reward. Not a standout, but not a red flag either — a reasonable choice if other factors align with your goals.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF provided a 0.97% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of A$1.56 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 3 consecutive years.

The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.

The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.

The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.

The maximum drawdown for the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF was 23.39%, occurring on Mar 23, 2020. Recovery took 220 trading sessions.

The current Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF drawdown is 0.36%.

The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.