XUSE.AS vs. VEA

Last updated Jun 5, 2026

XUSE.AS (iShares MSCI World ex-USA UCITS ETF) and VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - XUSE.AS is a Global Equities fund tracking the MSCI World ex USA Index, while VEA is a Foreign Large Cap Equities fund tracking the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past year, XUSE.AS returned 22.24% vs 27.20% for VEA. A 0.69 correlation means they provide meaningful diversification when combined. XUSE.AS charges 0.25%/yr vs 0.03%/yr for VEA.

Performance

XUSE.AS vs. VEA - Performance Comparison

The chart below illustrates the hypothetical performance of a $10,000 investment in iShares MSCI World ex-USA UCITS ETF (XUSE.AS) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA). The values are adjusted to include any dividend payments, if applicable.

Returns By Period

In the year-to-date period, XUSE.AS achieves a 8.38% return, which is significantly lower than VEA's 10.91% return.

XUSE.AS

• 1D: 0.27%
• 1M: 0.21%
• YTD: 8.38%
• 6M: 11.50%
• 1Y: 22.24%
• 3Y*: —
• 5Y*: —
• 10Y*: —

VEA

• 1D: -3.72%
• 1M: -2.40%
• YTD: 10.91%
• 6M: 13.57%
• 1Y: 27.20%
• 3Y*: 18.26%
• 5Y*: 8.83%
• 10Y*: 9.63%

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

XUSE.AS vs. VEA - Yearly Performance Comparison

	2026 (YTD)	2025
XUSE.AS iShares MSCI World ex-USA UCITS ETF	8.38%	25.69%
VEA Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF	10.91%	28.19%

Correlation

The correlation between XUSE.AS and VEA is 0.72, 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	0.72
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Jan 31, 2025	0.69

The correlation between XUSE.AS and VEA has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.69 to 0.72 - a consistent structural relationship.

Return for Risk

XUSE.AS vs. VEA — Risk / Return Rank

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

XUSE.AS

XUSE.AS Risk / Return Rank: 45
XUSE.AS Sharpe Ratio Rank: 44
XUSE.AS Sortino Ratio Rank: 47
XUSE.AS Omega Ratio Rank: 45
XUSE.AS Calmar Ratio Rank: 43
XUSE.AS Martin Ratio Rank: 47

VEA

VEA Risk / Return Rank: 50
VEA Sharpe Ratio Rank: 50
VEA Sortino Ratio Rank: 48
VEA Omega Ratio Rank: 51
VEA Calmar Ratio Rank: 48
VEA Martin Ratio Rank: 54

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.

XUSE.AS vs. VEA - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison

This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares MSCI World ex-USA UCITS ETF (XUSE.AS) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA). 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.

	XUSE.AS	VEA	Difference
Sharpe ratio: Return per unit of total volatility	1.52	1.70	-0.18
Sortino ratio: Return per unit of downside risk	2.30	2.33	-0.03
Omega ratio: Gain probability vs. loss probability	1.28	1.31	-0.03
Calmar ratio: Return relative to maximum drawdown	2.11	2.35	-0.24
Martin ratio: Return relative to average drawdown	7.72	9.12	-1.40
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month.

XUSE.AS vs. VEA - Sharpe Ratio Comparison

The current XUSE.AS Sharpe Ratio is 1.52, which is comparable to the VEA Sharpe Ratio of 1.70. The chart below compares the historical Sharpe Ratios of XUSE.AS and VEA, 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

	XUSE.AS	VEA	Difference
Sharpe Ratio (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	1.52	1.70	-0.18
Sharpe Ratio (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period	—	0.53	—
Sharpe Ratio (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period	—	0.56	—
Sharpe Ratio (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history	1.56	0.24	+1.33

Drawdowns

XUSE.AS vs. VEA - Drawdown Comparison

The maximum XUSE.AS drawdown since its inception was -12.97%, smaller than the maximum VEA drawdown of -60.68%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for XUSE.AS and VEA.

Drawdown Indicators

	XUSE.AS	VEA	Difference
Max Drawdown Largest peak-to-trough decline	-12.97%	-60.68%	+47.71%
Max Drawdown (1Y) Largest decline over 1 year	-10.54%	-11.63%	+1.09%
Max Drawdown (3Y) Largest decline over 3 years	—	-13.45%	—
Max Drawdown (5Y) Largest decline over 5 years	—	-29.71%	—
Max Drawdown (10Y) Largest decline over 10 years	—	-35.73%	—
Current Drawdown Current decline from peak	-1.23%	-4.36%	+3.13%
Average Drawdown Average peak-to-trough decline	-1.72%	-13.29%	+11.57%
Ulcer Index Depth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks	2.90%	2.99%	-0.09%

Volatility

XUSE.AS vs. VEA - Volatility Comparison

The current volatility for iShares MSCI World ex-USA UCITS ETF (XUSE.AS) is 4.32%, while Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) has a volatility of 6.17%. This indicates that XUSE.AS experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VEA based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.

Volatility by Period

	XUSE.AS	VEA	Difference
Volatility (1M) Calculated over the trailing 1-month period	4.32%	6.17%	-1.85%
Volatility (6M) Calculated over the trailing 6-month period	12.35%	13.88%	-1.53%
Volatility (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period	14.62%	16.09%	-1.47%
Volatility (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized	16.45%	16.62%	-0.17%
Volatility (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized	16.45%	17.39%	-0.94%

XUSE.AS vs. VEA - Expense Ratio Comparison

XUSE.AS has a 0.25% expense ratio, which is higher than VEA's 0.03% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.

Dividends

XUSE.AS vs. VEA - Dividend Comparison

XUSE.AS has not paid dividends to shareholders, while VEA's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.71%.

Position	TTM	2025	2024	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015
VEA Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF	2.71%	3.22%	3.35%	3.15%	2.91%	3.16%	2.04%	3.04%	3.35%	2.77%	3.05%	2.92%
XUSE.AS iShares MSCI World ex-USA UCITS ETF	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%	0.00%

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold both XUSE.AS and VEA in my portfolio?

XUSE.AS and VEA have a correlation of 0.72, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.

Which ETF is better, XUSE.AS or VEA?

On fees, VEA is cheaper at 0.03% per year. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.

Which ETF is cheaper, XUSE.AS or VEA?

VEA is cheaper with a 0.03% expense ratio, compared with 0.25% for XUSE.AS.

What is the main difference between XUSE.AS and VEA?

XUSE.AS is categorized as Global Equities, while VEA is Foreign Large Cap Equities. XUSE.AS tracks MSCI World ex USA Index, while VEA tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index. They also come from different issuers: iShares and Vanguard. Their fees differ too: 0.25% for XUSE.AS and 0.03% for VEA.