ETF Comparison

DGS vs VWO: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund and Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 15, 2026

WisdomTree

ETFs98

Total AUM$98.9B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

WisdomTree is known for offering diversified, thematically-focused ETFs that emphasize dividend income and factor-based strategies across multiple asset classes. The firm manages 28 funds spanning equities, fixed income, commodities, digital assets, and alternatives, with a particular strength in dividend and income-oriented products like its popular DGS (Emerging Markets High Dividend) and DGRW (Emerging Markets Quality Dividend Growth) funds. WisdomTree's lineup is characterized by its broad thematic approach, including exposure to megatrends and digital assets, alongside traditional dividend and factor-based equity strategies designed to appeal to income-focused investors.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on DGS.

See all WisdomTree ETFs

Vanguard

ETFs115

Total AUM$4484B

ETFs and AUM reflect what Dividend Vision tracks — the issuer's full lineup may be larger.

Vanguard is known for offering low-cost, passively managed ETFs that emphasize broad market exposure and long-term investing. The company operates 175 ETFs across diverse fund families including Index, Bond, Equity, Dividend, Income, International, Factor, and ESG strategies, serving investors with various goals from core portfolio building to specialized income generation. Notable for its scale and popular tickers like VB (total U.S. small-cap), BND (total bond market), and VBIAX (international bonds), Vanguard focuses on providing comprehensive, index-based investment solutions with an emphasis on cost efficiency and accessibility.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VWO.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

	DGS	VWO
Full name	WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund	Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF
Issuer	WisdomTree	Vanguard
Last Close	$63.34 as of July 15, 2026	$59.08 as of July 15, 2026
Distribution yield	5.30%	0.48%
Distribution Safety Score	76	72
Expense ratio	0.58%	0.06%
AUM	$1.80B	$119B
Distribution frequency	Quarterly	Quarterly
Underlying index	WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index	FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index
Objective	Seeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index, a fundamentally weighted index that measures the performance of primarily small-capitalization stocks selected from the WisdomTree Emerging Markets Dividend Index.	Track the FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	10/30/2007	03/04/2005
Beta	0.92	0.78
Last dividend	$0.8400	$0.0710
Ex-dividend date	06/25/2026	06/18/2026

Bottom lineChoose DGS if you want higher current income (5.30% vs 0.48% for VWO). Choose VWO if you want broad equity exposure.

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Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

Projections assume the current yield and share price remain constant. Actual results will vary.

Quick verdict

DGS (WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund) and VWO (Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

DGS offers the higher yield at 5.30% vs 0.48% for VWO. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VWO is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.06% compared to 0.58%.

They track different benchmarks: DGS is linked to WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index while VWO tracks FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VWO is the larger fund by assets ($119B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose DGS

WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund

Want higher current income — DGS yields 5.30% vs 0.48% for VWO.
Want a quality-dividend tilt — screened payers rather than the broad index.

Choose VWO

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF

Want broad equity exposure.
Want to keep costs low — a 0.06% expense ratio vs 0.58% for DGS.

Not sure? Use the income calculator and snapshot above to weigh these trade-offs against your own goals.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, DGS would generate roughly $44.17/month, while VWO would produce $4.00/month, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

DGS yield5.30%

VWO yield0.48%

Monthly diff on $10K$40.17

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, DGS would cost approximately $580 in fees vs $60 for VWO (simplified, not compounded). The $520.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

DGS ER0.58%

VWO ER0.06%

Strategy & risk

DGS tracks WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index, while VWO tracks FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index with an international approach. Beta is 0.92 for DGS and 0.78 for VWO, indicating VWO is less volatile relative to the market.

DGS beta0.92

VWO beta0.78

Fund details

DGS is managed by WisdomTree (launched 10/30/2007) with $1.80B in assets. VWO is managed by Vanguard (launched 03/04/2005) with $119B in assets.

DGS AUM$1.80B

VWO AUM$119B

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Frequently asked questions

Is DGS or VWO better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. DGS currently offers the higher distribution yield, which means more income per dollar invested. However, a lower-yield fund may offer better total return or lower volatility. Consider your time horizon and risk tolerance.

What is the difference between DGS and VWO?

DGS (WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Fund) tracks WisdomTree Emerging Markets SmallCap Dividend Index, while VWO (Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF) tracks FTSE Emerging Markets All Cap China A Inclusion Index with an international approach. They are issued by WisdomTree and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both DGS and VWO?

Yes — nothing prevents holding both. Whether the combination actually diversifies depends on how much the underlying exposures overlap, which isn't fully measurable from the data on this page; review each security's holdings, sector, and strategy before treating them as complementary.

Which has lower fees, DGS or VWO?

DGS has an expense ratio of 0.58% while VWO charges 0.06%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in DGS vs VWO generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in DGS would generate roughly $44.17 per month ($530.00 annually). The same in VWO would produce about $4.00 per month ($48.00 annually).

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