VWO vs. MAIIX
VWO (Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF) and MAIIX (iShares MSCI EAFE International Index Fund) are both funds - VWO is a Emerging Markets Equities fund tracking the FTSE Emerging Index, while MAIIX is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund managed by BlackRock. Over the past 10 years, VWO returned 9.00%/yr vs 9.74%/yr for MAIIX. A 0.78 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. VWO charges 0.08%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for MAIIX.
Performance
VWO vs. MAIIX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VWO achieves a 10.77% return, which is significantly higher than MAIIX's 9.04% return. Over the past 10 years, VWO has underperformed MAIIX with an annualized return of 9.00%, while MAIIX has yielded a comparatively higher 9.74% annualized return.
VWO
- 1D
- 0.76%
- 1M
- -0.68%
- YTD
- 10.77%
- 6M
- 12.57%
- 1Y
- 26.52%
- 3Y*
- 16.61%
- 5Y*
- 5.03%
- 10Y*
- 9.00%
MAIIX
- 1D
- 3.03%
- 1M
- 1.01%
- YTD
- 9.04%
- 6M
- 10.49%
- 1Y
- 21.60%
- 3Y*
- 16.56%
- 5Y*
- 8.50%
- 10Y*
- 9.74%
VWO vs. MAIIX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VWO Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 10.77% | 25.60% | 10.59% | 9.25% | -17.98% | 1.26% | 15.17% | 20.75% | -14.76% | 31.49% |
MAIIX iShares MSCI EAFE International Index Fund | 9.04% | 31.62% | 3.65% | 18.35% | -14.15% | 11.25% | 8.03% | 21.82% | -13.43% | 25.24% |
Correlation
The correlation between VWO and MAIIX is 0.77, 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 | 0.77 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.74 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.75 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.76 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Mar 10, 2005 | 0.78 |
The correlation between VWO and MAIIX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.74 to 0.78 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VWO vs. MAIIX — Risk / Return Rank
VWO
MAIIX
VWO vs. MAIIX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) and iShares MSCI EAFE International Index Fund (MAIIX). 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.
| VWO | MAIIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.16 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.16 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.24 | +0.04 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.21 | 1.85 | +0.36 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 7.80 | 6.88 | +0.93 |
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Drawdowns
VWO vs. MAIIX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VWO drawdown since its inception was -67.68%, which is greater than MAIIX's maximum drawdown of -61.05%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VWO and MAIIX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VWO | MAIIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -67.68% | -61.05% | -6.63% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.17% | -11.31% | +0.14% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -17.37% | -13.68% | -3.69% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -32.60% | -29.31% | -3.29% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -36.39% | -34.01% | -2.38% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.68% | -0.94% | -1.74% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -15.80% | -15.33% | -0.47% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.17% | 3.04% | +0.13% |
Volatility
VWO vs. MAIIX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) has a higher volatility of 6.64% compared to iShares MSCI EAFE International Index Fund (MAIIX) at 5.32%. This indicates that VWO's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than MAIIX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VWO | MAIIX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.64% | 5.32% | +1.32% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 14.04% | 12.98% | +1.06% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.54% | 15.66% | +0.88% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 17.48% | 16.25% | +1.23% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 19.22% | 16.67% | +2.55% |
VWO vs. MAIIX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VWO has a 0.08% expense ratio, which is lower than MAIIX'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%.
Dividends
VWO vs. MAIIX - Dividend Comparison
VWO's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.44%, less than MAIIX's 3.40% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MAIIX iShares MSCI EAFE International Index Fund | 3.40% | 3.71% | 3.38% | 3.16% | 2.76% | 3.00% | 1.94% | 3.29% | 4.53% | 2.42% | 2.81% | 2.40% |
VWO Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | 2.44% | 2.79% | 3.20% | 3.52% | 4.11% | 2.63% | 1.91% | 3.23% | 2.88% | 2.30% | 2.52% | 3.26% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VWO and MAIIX have a correlation of 0.77, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VWO has higher volatility (6.64%) compared to MAIIX (5.32%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VWO dropped -67.68% vs MAIIX's -61.05%.
VWO currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.49 vs 1.34), 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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