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VTIAX vs. VTWAX
Performance
Return for Risk
Drawdowns
Volatility
Dividends

VTIAX vs. VTWAX

Last updated Aug 2, 2026
Documentation

VTIAX (Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VTWAX (Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VTIAX is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, while VTWAX is a Global Equities fund tracking the FTSE Global All Cap Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VTIAX returned 8.80%/yr vs 10.50%/yr for VTWAX. Their correlation of 0.92 means they have usually moved in the same direction. Both charge a 0.09% expense ratio.

Performance

VTIAX vs. VTWAX - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX) and Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTWAX). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

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Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, VTIAX achieves a 12.79% return, which is significantly higher than VTWAX's 10.81% return.

VTIAX

1D
2.76%
1M
0.11%
6M
6.66%
YTD
12.79%
1Y
27.69%
3Y*
16.78%
5Y*
8.80%
10Y*
9.37%
ALL TIME*
6.96%

VTWAX

1D
2.04%
1M
-0.42%
6M
7.48%
YTD
10.81%
1Y
23.20%
3Y*
17.83%
5Y*
10.50%
10Y*
—
ALL TIME*
13.38%
*Multi-year figures are annualized to reflect compound growth (CAGR)

Liquidity Comparison

PositionAvg. Volume Value (2W)Avg. Volume Value (1M)Avg. Volume Value (3M)

VTIAX

Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares
$0.00$0.00$0.00

VTWAX

Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares
$0.00$0.00$0.00

VTIAX vs. VTWAX - Yearly Performance Comparison

2026 (YTD)2025202420232022202120202019
VTIAX
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares		12.79%32.18%5.34%15.28%-16.02%8.59%11.27%12.51%
VTWAX
Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares		10.81%22.43%16.43%21.85%-18.02%18.17%16.67%17.53%

Correlation

The correlation between VTIAX and VTWAX is 0.94, meaning they have usually moved in the same direction, including during past declines.

Correlation
Correlation (1Y)
Focuses on recent behavior, but can change the most.

0.94

Correlation (3Y)
Balances recent behavior with more history.

0.90

Correlation (5Y)
Shows whether the relationship held over a longer period.

0.91

Correlation (All Time)
Calculated using the full available price history since Feb 7, 2019

0.92

The correlation between VTIAX and VTWAX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.90 to 0.94 - a consistent structural relationship.

VTIAX vs. VTWAX - Sectors Allocation Comparison

Sectors
VTIAX
VTWAX

Technology

25.6%
31.2%

Financial Services

24.2%
15.7%

Industrials

13.8%
11.7%

Healthcare

6.9%
8.3%

Consumer Cyclical

6.4%
9.0%

Basic Materials

5.9%
3.8%

Consumer Defensive

4.6%
4.5%

Energy

4.4%
3.6%

Communication Services

3.9%
7.4%

Utilities

2.6%
2.5%

Real Estate

0.9%
2.3%

Technology

VTIAX
25.6%
VTWAX
31.2%

Financial Services

VTIAX
24.2%
VTWAX
15.7%

Industrials

VTIAX
13.8%
VTWAX
11.7%

Healthcare

VTIAX
6.9%
VTWAX
8.3%

Consumer Cyclical

VTIAX
6.4%
VTWAX
9.0%

Basic Materials

VTIAX
5.9%
VTWAX
3.8%

Consumer Defensive

VTIAX
4.6%
VTWAX
4.5%

Energy

VTIAX
4.4%
VTWAX
3.6%

Communication Services

VTIAX
3.9%
VTWAX
7.4%

Utilities

VTIAX
2.6%
VTWAX
2.5%

Real Estate

VTIAX
0.9%
VTWAX
2.3%

Compare stocks, funds, or ETFs

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Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares

Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares

Often compared with VTIAX:
VTIAX vs. VTSAXVTIAX vs. VXUSVTIAX vs. FTIHXVTIAX vs. VFWAXVTIAX vs. SWISXVTIAX vs. VOOVTIAX vs. VWIGX
Often compared with VTWAX:
VTWAX vs. VTSAXVTWAX vs. VTVTWAX vs. VFIAXVTWAX vs. VTWIXVTWAX vs. VOOVTWAX vs. VASGXVTWAX vs. SPY

Return for Risk

VTIAX vs. VTWAX — Risk / Return Rank

Compare historical risk-adjusted metric ranks over the past 12 months.
VTIAX
VTIAX Risk / Return Rank: 7272
Overall Rank
VTIAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 7373
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VTIAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 6969
Sortino Ratio Rank
VTIAX Omega Ratio Rank: 7272
Omega Ratio Rank
VTIAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 7474
Calmar Ratio Rank
VTIAX Martin Ratio Rank: 7474
Martin Ratio Rank
VTWAX
VTWAX Risk / Return Rank: 7070
Overall Rank
VTWAX Sharpe Ratio Rank: 6969
Sharpe Ratio Rank
VTWAX Sortino Ratio Rank: 6565
Sortino Ratio Rank
VTWAX Omega Ratio Rank: 6666
Omega Ratio Rank
VTWAX Calmar Ratio Rank: 7070
Calmar Ratio Rank
VTWAX Martin Ratio Rank: 7979
Martin Ratio Rank
The rank (0–100) uses a weighted average of the Sharpe, Sortino, Omega, Calmar, and Martin percentile ranks for the trailing 12 months. Higher means stronger historical risk-adjusted performance within the peer group.

VTIAX vs. VTWAX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX) and Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTWAX). 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.

Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.

VTIAXVTWAXDifference
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility
1.65
1.55

+0.09

Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk
2.27
2.18

+0.10

Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability

1.30

1.28

+0.02

Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown

2.33

2.20

+0.13

Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown

8.64

9.18

-0.54

VTIAX vs. VTWAX - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current VTIAX Sharpe Ratio is 1.65, which is comparable to the VTWAX Sharpe Ratio of 1.55. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of VTIAX and VTWAX, calculated using daily returns over the previous 12 months. A higher Sharpe Ratio indicates better risk-adjusted performance relative to the risk-free rate.

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Drawdowns

VTIAX vs. VTWAX - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum VTIAX drawdown since its inception was -35.83%, roughly equal to the maximum VTWAX drawdown of -34.20%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VTIAX and VTWAX.

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Drawdown Indicators

VTIAXVTWAXDifference

Max Drawdown

Largest peak-to-trough decline

-35.83%

-34.20%

-1.63%

Max Drawdown (1Y)

Largest decline over 1 year

-11.28%

-9.64%

-1.64%

Max Drawdown (3Y)

Largest decline over 3 years

-13.13%

-16.43%

+3.30%

Max Drawdown (5Y)

Largest decline over 5 years

-29.52%

-26.40%

-3.12%

Max Drawdown (10Y)

Largest decline over 10 years

-35.83%

—

—

Current Drawdown

Current decline from peak

-2.61%

-2.07%

-0.54%

Average Drawdown

Average peak-to-trough decline

-8.02%

-5.23%

-2.79%

Ulcer Index

Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks

3.03%

2.30%

+0.73%

Volatility

VTIAX vs. VTWAX - Volatility Comparison

Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTIAX) has a higher volatility of 5.45% compared to Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares (VTWAX) at 4.00%. This indicates that VTIAX's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than VTWAX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

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Volatility by Period

VTIAXVTWAXDifference

Volatility (1M)

Calculated over the trailing 1-month period

5.45%

4.00%

+1.45%

Volatility (6M)

Calculated over the trailing 6-month period

14.12%

11.36%

+2.76%

Volatility (1Y)

Calculated over the trailing 1-year period

15.98%

13.65%

+2.33%

Volatility (5Y)

Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized

15.37%

15.89%

-0.52%

Volatility (10Y)

Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized

15.82%

18.17%

-2.35%

VTIAX vs. VTWAX - Expense Ratio Comparison

Both VTIAX and VTWAX have an expense ratio of 0.09%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

VTIAX vs. VTWAX - Dividend Comparison

VTIAX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.55%, more than VTWAX's 1.57% yield.

PositionTTM20252024202320222021202020192018201720162015
VTIAX
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares		2.55%3.15%3.33%3.22%3.04%3.05%2.10%3.04%3.16%2.73%2.93%2.84%
VTWAX
Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund Admiral Shares		1.57%1.80%1.92%2.06%2.17%1.79%1.64%2.28%0.00%0.00%0.00%0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

With a correlation of 0.94, VTIAX and VTWAX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.

VTIAX has higher volatility (5.45%) compared to VTWAX (4.00%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VTIAX dropped -35.83% vs VTWAX's -34.20%.

VTIAX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.65 vs 1.55), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.

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