VEU vs. SPY
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (VEU) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY).
VEU and SPY are both exchange-traded funds (ETFs), meaning they are traded on stock exchanges and can be bought and sold throughout the day. VEU is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE All-World ex US Index. It was launched on Mar 2, 2007. SPY is a passively managed fund by State Street that tracks the performance of the S&P 500 Index. It was launched on Jan 22, 1993. Both VEU and SPY are passive ETFs, meaning that they are not actively managed but aim to replicate the performance of the underlying index as closely as possible.
Scroll down to visually compare performance, riskiness, drawdowns, and other indicators and decide which better suits your portfolio: VEU or SPY.
Key characteristics
| VEU | SPY | |
|---|---|---|
| YTD Return | 6.15% | 24.40% |
| 1Y Return | 13.39% | 31.86% |
| 3Y Return (Ann) | 0.62% | 9.29% |
| 5Y Return (Ann) | 5.31% | 15.23% |
| 10Y Return (Ann) | 4.84% | 13.04% |
| Sharpe Ratio | 1.02 | 2.64 |
| Sortino Ratio | 1.48 | 3.53 |
| Omega Ratio | 1.18 | 1.49 |
| Calmar Ratio | 1.11 | 3.81 |
| Martin Ratio | 5.38 | 17.21 |
| Ulcer Index | 2.40% | 1.86% |
| Daily Std Dev | 12.64% | 12.15% |
| Max Drawdown | -61.52% | -55.19% |
| Current Drawdown | -7.87% | -2.17% |
Correlation
The correlation between VEU and SPY is 0.84, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Performance
VEU vs. SPY - Performance Comparison
In the year-to-date period, VEU achieves a 6.15% return, which is significantly lower than SPY's 24.40% return. Over the past 10 years, VEU has underperformed SPY with an annualized return of 4.84%, while SPY has yielded a comparatively higher 13.04% annualized return. The chart below displays the growth of a $10,000 investment in both assets, with all prices adjusted for splits and dividends.
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VEU vs. SPY - Expense Ratio Comparison
VEU has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is lower than SPY's 0.09% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Risk-Adjusted Performance
VEU vs. SPY - Risk-Adjusted Performance Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (VEU) and SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Dividends
VEU vs. SPY - Dividend Comparison
VEU's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.01%, more than SPY's 1.20% yield.
| TTM | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VEU Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF | 3.01% | 3.32% | 3.12% | 3.07% | 2.00% | 3.10% | 3.27% | 2.66% | 2.96% | 2.95% | 3.52% | 2.66% |
SPY SPDR S&P 500 ETF | 1.20% | 1.40% | 1.65% | 1.20% | 1.52% | 1.75% | 2.04% | 1.80% | 2.03% | 2.06% | 1.87% | 1.81% |
Drawdowns
VEU vs. SPY - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VEU drawdown since its inception was -61.52%, which is greater than SPY's maximum drawdown of -55.19%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VEU and SPY. For additional features, visit the drawdowns tool.
Volatility
VEU vs. SPY - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (VEU) is 3.86%, while SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) has a volatility of 4.08%. This indicates that VEU experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than SPY based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.