VFEM.L vs. VWRD.L

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

VFEM.L (Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF Distributing) and VWRD.L (Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VFEM.L is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the MSCI EM NR USD, while VWRD.L is a Global Equities fund tracking the FTSE All-World Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, VFEM.L returned 11.67%/yr vs 13.48%/yr for VWRD.L. A 0.70 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. Both charge a 0.22% expense ratio.

Performance

VFEM.L vs. VWRD.L - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a £10,000 investment in Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF Distributing (VFEM.L) and Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF (VWRD.L). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Different Trading Currencies

VFEM.L is traded in GBP, while VWRD.L is traded in USD. To make them comparable, the VWRD.L values have been converted to GBP using the latest available exchange rates.

Returns By Period

The year-to-date returns for both investments are quite close, with VFEM.L having a 11.78% return and VWRD.L slightly higher at 12.08%. Over the past 10 years, VFEM.L has underperformed VWRD.L with an annualized return of 11.67%, while VWRD.L has yielded a comparatively higher 13.48% annualized return.

VFEM.L

• 1D: -0.13%
• 1M: 2.65%
• YTD: 11.78%
• 6M: 12.41%
• 1Y: 30.99%
• 3Y*: 16.84%
• 5Y*: 8.88%
• 10Y*: 11.67%

VWRD.L

• 1D: -0.10%
• 1M: 5.24%
• YTD: 12.08%
• 6M: 12.23%
• 1Y: 29.86%
• 3Y*: 18.05%
• 5Y*: 12.45%
• 10Y*: 13.48%

*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

VFEM.L vs. VWRD.L - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017
VFEM.L Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF Distributing	11.78%	16.90%	15.28%	5.45%	-3.23%	3.99%	15.04%	16.30%	-6.83%	20.89%
VWRD.L Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF	12.08%	13.66%	19.71%	16.20%	-8.46%	19.64%	12.72%	20.89%	-4.35%	13.61%

Correlation

The correlation between VFEM.L and VWRD.L is 0.70, which is moderate. They share some common price drivers but move independently often enough to provide real diversification benefit when combined.

	Correlation
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	0.70
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period	0.63
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.61
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.69
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 29, 2012	0.70

The correlation between VFEM.L and VWRD.L has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.60 to 0.70 - a consistent structural relationship.

VFEM.L vs. VWRD.L - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors	VFEM.L	VWRD.L
Technology	29.6%	30.2%
Financial Services	20.8%	16.1%
Consumer Cyclical	10.8%	9.1%
Basic Materials	7.8%	3.6%
Communication Services	7.5%	8.9%
Industrials	7.1%	10.2%
Energy	4.9%	4.3%
Consumer Defensive	3.6%	4.9%
Healthcare	3.4%	8.1%
Utilities	3.0%	2.9%
Real Estate	1.7%	1.6%

Return for Risk

VFEM.L vs. VWRD.L — Risk / Return Rank

Compare risk-adjusted metric ranks to identify better-performing investments over the past 12 months.

VFEM.L

VFEM.L Risk / Return Rank: 68
VFEM.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 69
VFEM.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 66
VFEM.L Omega Ratio Rank: 68
VFEM.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 70
VFEM.L Martin Ratio Rank: 64

VWRD.L

VWRD.L Risk / Return Rank: 72
VWRD.L Sharpe Ratio Rank: 72
VWRD.L Sortino Ratio Rank: 77
VWRD.L Omega Ratio Rank: 73
VWRD.L Calmar Ratio Rank: 66
VWRD.L Martin Ratio Rank: 73

The rank (0–100) shows how this investment's returns compare to the risk taken. Higher = better. Based on the past 12 months of data, combining Sharpe, Sortino, and other metrics used by quantitative funds and institutional investors.

VFEM.L vs. VWRD.L - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF Distributing (VFEM.L) and Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF (VWRD.L). 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.

	VFEM.L	VWRD.L	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	2.23	2.51	-0.28
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	3.00	3.46	-0.46
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.40	1.47	-0.07
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	3.46	4.27	-0.81
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	11.41	16.46	-5.05
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

VFEM.L vs. VWRD.L - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VFEM.L Sharpe Ratio is 2.23, which is comparable to the VWRD.L Sharpe Ratio of 2.51. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VFEM.L and VWRD.L, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

Sharpe Ratios by Period

	VFEM.L	VWRD.L	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	2.23	2.51	-0.28
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	0.57	0.88	-0.31
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	0.67	0.88	-0.21
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	0.54	0.90	-0.36

Drawdowns

VFEM.L vs. VWRD.L - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VFEM.L drawdown since its inception was -31.32%, which is greater than VWRD.L's maximum drawdown of -25.84%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VFEM.L and VWRD.L.

Drawdown Indicators

	VFEM.L	VWRD.L	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-31.32%	-25.84%	-5.48%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-8.92%	-6.96%	-1.96%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	-14.68%	-18.11%	+3.43%
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	-15.28%	-18.11%	+2.83%
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	-25.91%	-25.84%	-0.07%
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.46%	-0.43%	-1.03%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-6.87%	-3.47%	-3.40%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.71%	1.81%	+0.90%

Volatility

VFEM.L vs. VWRD.L - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF Distributing (VFEM.L) has a higher volatility of 5.23% compared to Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF (VWRD.L) at 3.68%. This indicates that VFEM.L's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VWRD.L based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	VFEM.L	VWRD.L	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	5.23%	3.68%	+1.55%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	11.12%	9.26%	+1.86%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	13.85%	11.85%	+2.00%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	15.47%	14.07%	+1.40%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	17.50%	15.29%	+2.21%

VFEM.L vs. VWRD.L - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both VFEM.L and VWRD.L have an expense ratio of 0.22%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VFEM.L vs. VWRD.L - Dividend Comparison

VFEM.L's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.04%, more than VWRD.L's 1.24% yield.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VFEM.L Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets UCITS ETF Distributing	2.04%	2.36%	2.93%	6.58%	7.88%	6.20%	4.92%	3.39%	3.61%	2.98%	2.96%	4.36%
VWRD.L Vanguard FTSE All-World UCITS ETF	1.24%	1.38%	1.52%	1.69%	2.05%	1.48%	1.47%	1.88%	2.29%	1.82%	2.04%	2.07%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both VFEM.L and VWRD.L in my portfolio?

VFEM.L and VWRD.L have a correlation of 0.70, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, VFEM.L or VWRD.L?

Both ETFs have the same 0.22% expense ratio. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, VFEM.L or VWRD.L?

VFEM.L and VWRD.L have the same expense ratio: 0.22% per year.

What is the main difference between VFEM.L and VWRD.L?

VFEM.L is categorized as Emerging Markets Equities, while VWRD.L is Global Equities. VFEM.L tracks MSCI EM NR USD, while VWRD.L tracks FTSE All-World Index.