ETF Comparison

IXUS vs VEA: Which Is the Better Pick in 2026?

A head-to-head comparison of iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF covering yield, cost, risk, and income potential.

Data updated July 4, 2026

iShares

ETFs481

Total AUM$4451B

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

iShares is one of the largest ETF providers globally, known for offering a broad, diversified lineup of exchange-traded funds across multiple asset classes and investment strategies. The company operates 215 funds spanning 15 distinct families, including popular offerings in dividend income, covered call strategies, bonds, equities, ESG-focused investments, and factor-based approaches, with widely-held tickers like AGG (bond), ACWI (global equity), and AOA (allocation). iShares is characterized by its comprehensive fund ecosystem that serves both core portfolio holdings and specialized investment strategies, making it a prominent player for investors seeking both traditional and alternative income-generating ETF solutions.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on IXUS.

See all iShares 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 VEA.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Side-by-side snapshot

	IXUS	VEA
Full name	iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF	Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF
Issuer	iShares	Vanguard
Last Close	$94.72 as of July 4, 2026	$70.81 as of July 4, 2026
Distribution yield	2.60%	2.13%
Distribution Safety Score	79	89
Expense ratio	0.07%	0.05%
AUM	$56.6B	$223B
Distribution frequency	Semi-Annual	Quarterly
Underlying index	MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index	FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index
Objective	Provide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.	Track the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index.
Asset class	Equity	Equity
Inception date	10/18/2012	07/20/2007
Beta	0.93	0.97
Last dividend	$1.2330	$0.3770
Ex-dividend date	12/15/2026	06/18/2026

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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.

Total returns

IXUS has lagged VEA over the trailing twelve months, posting a 26.32% total return against 27.22%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VEA has compounded at 10.33% a year, against 9.83% for IXUS. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Symbol	YTD	1Y	3Y	5Y	10Y	Since Oct 2012	Volatility	Sharpe	Sortino	Max drawdown
IXUS	11.76%	26.32%	18.39%	8.53%	9.83%	7.84%	15.4%	0.81	1.17	-13.7%
VEA	12.23%	27.22%	18.71%	9.75%	10.33%	8.76%	15.6%	0.81	1.18	-13.5%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date, split-adjusted, as of July 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative; longer windows are annualized. “Since Oct 2012” measures every fund from October 22, 2012 — the youngest fund's first trading day — so all funds share one comparison window. Volatility is the annualized standard deviation of daily total returns over the trailing 3 years. Sharpe and Sortino divide the annualized return in excess of the risk-free rate by, respectively, that volatility and the downside deviation (both over the trailing 3 years) — higher is better. Max drawdown is the largest peak-to-trough total-return decline over the same window — shallower is better.

Quick verdict

IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF) and VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) are both dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

IXUS offers the higher yield at 2.60% vs 2.13% for VEA. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

VEA is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.05% compared to 0.07%.

They track different benchmarks: IXUS is linked to MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index while VEA tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VEA is the larger fund by assets ($223B), which generally means tighter spreads and better liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, IXUS would generate roughly $21.67/month, while VEA would produce $17.75/month, at current distribution rates.

IXUS yield2.60%

VEA yield2.13%

Monthly diff on $10K$3.92

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IXUS would cost approximately $70 in fees vs $50 for VEA (simplified, not compounded). The $20.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IXUS ER0.07%

VEA ER0.05%

Strategy & risk

IXUS tracks MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index with an index approach, while VEA tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index with an international approach. Beta is 0.93 for IXUS and 0.97 for VEA, indicating IXUS is less volatile relative to the market.

IXUS beta0.93

VEA beta0.97

Fund details

IXUS is managed by iShares (launched 10/18/2012) with $56.6B in assets. VEA is managed by Vanguard (launched 07/20/2007) with $223B in assets.

IXUS AUM$56.6B

VEA AUM$223B

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Frequently asked questions

Is IXUS or VEA better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. IXUS 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 IXUS and VEA?

IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF) tracks MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index with an index approach, while VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index with an international approach. They are issued by iShares and Vanguard respectively.

Can I hold both IXUS and VEA?

Yes. Many income investors hold both to diversify across different strategies and underlying indexes. This can reduce concentration risk while maintaining a strong income stream.

Which has lower fees, IXUS or VEA?

IXUS has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VEA charges 0.05%. Lower fees mean more of your investment returns stay in your pocket over time.

How much income does $10,000 in IXUS vs VEA generate?

At current rates, $10,000 in IXUS would generate roughly $21.67 per month ($260.00 annually). The same in VEA would produce about $17.75 per month ($213.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IXUS or VEA?

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IXUS vs VEA — at a glance

Generated July 2026 from current fund data.

Overview

IXUS and VEA are both low-cost index ETFs offering developed and emerging market equity exposure outside the United States, but they differ in geographic scope and index methodology. IXUS tracks the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index, which includes both developed and emerging markets, while VEA tracks the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index, which excludes emerging markets entirely. The choice between them hinges on whether you want emerging market exposure built in.

How they differ

The biggest structural difference is geography: IXUS includes emerging markets (roughly 25% of the fund) while VEA is pure developed markets. This makes IXUS broader and more volatile, with a distribution rate of 2.60% versus VEA's 2.13%, though the yield difference partly reflects IXUS's higher emerging-market allocation. On cost, VEA edges out IXUS with a 0.05% expense ratio compared to IXUS's 0.07%, but the gap is negligible in dollar terms. VEA is substantially larger at $223B in AUM versus IXUS's $56.6B, and VEA pays dividends quarterly while IXUS distributes semi-annually. Both have similar betas (0.97 for VEA, 0.93 for IXUS), indicating comparable market sensitivity relative to the broader developed-market benchmark.

Who each is best for

IXUS: Fits investors seeking a single ticket for complete non-US equity exposure across both developed and emerging markets, with a tolerance for higher volatility and currency fluctuation that comes with emerging-market inclusion.

VEA: Designed for investors who want the stability of developed-market-only exposure and prefer to manage emerging markets separately, or who already hold EM exposure through another fund.

Key risks to know

Index methodology risk: IXUS uses a market-cap-weighted IMI (Investable Market Index) approach that includes smaller-cap stocks, while VEA uses an all-cap framework; these differences in stock selection can lead to performance divergence in small-cap rallies or corrections.

Emerging market volatility: IXUS's ~25% emerging-market weighting introduces currency, political, and liquidity risks absent from VEA; EM-focused periods of weakness will hit IXUS harder than developed-market-only strategies.

Currency exposure: Both funds hold non-US equities and are therefore exposed to foreign exchange fluctuations; a strengthening dollar reduces returns for USD-based investors, while a weakening dollar enhances them, independent of underlying stock performance.

Concentration in developed economies: VEA's exclusive developed-market focus means heavy weighting to Japan, the UK, Canada, and continental Europe; geopolitical or economic shocks to these regions have outsized impact compared to a more globally diversified approach.

Bottom line

If you want complete non-US equity exposure in a single fund and are comfortable with emerging-market volatility, IXUS delivers that in one holding at a modest cost; if you prefer to keep developed and emerging markets separate or want the lowest possible expense ratio with larger trading liquidity, VEA's $223B in assets and 0.05% fee make it an efficient developed-markets-only option. Past performance of either index does not predict future returns.

AI-generated analysis for educational purposes only. Verify important details independently; past performance does not guarantee future results.