DV
Dividend Vision

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.

Updated October 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • IXUSInvestors who want higher current income (2.58% vs 1.00% for VEA).
  • VEAInvestors who want broad equity exposure.

Jump to the side-by-side numbers

Visual comparison

Key metrics

Projected income on $10K

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

Total returns

100% reinvested · ex-date convention. Period returns use this fixed assumption, independent of chart settings. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year.

IXUS has lagged VEA over the trailing twelve months, posting a 18.61% total return against 20.95%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VEA has compounded at 9.85% a year, against 9.26% for IXUS. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested.

Total return and risk statistics by fund. Each row is one fund; each column is one period or statistic.
SymbolYTD cumulative1Y cumulative3Y annualized5Y annualized10Y annualizedSince Oct 2012Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
IXUS12.78%18.61%21.07%9.39%9.26%7.77%15.5%0.951.38-13.7%
VEA13.61%20.95%21.80%10.38%9.85%8.69%15.8%0.971.41-13.5%

Total return with all distributions reinvested on the ex-dividend date (a modeling convention, not the cash-settlement date), split-adjusted, as of October 2, 2026. YTD and 1Y are cumulative period returns; 3Y, 5Y, and 10Y are annualized. The shared Since-start window is annualized only when it covers at least one year. “Since Oct 2012” measures every fund from October 22, 2012 — the start of shared available history — 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.

Side-by-side snapshot

Side-by-side snapshot. Each row is one metric; each column is one fund.
MetricIXUSVEA
Full nameiShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETFVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF
IssueriSharesVanguard
Underlying indexMSCI ACWI ex USA IMI IndexFTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index
Last Close$95.58 as of October 2, 2026$71.13 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate2.58%1.00%
Trailing 12-month yield2.93%2.40%
Distribution Safety Score™ 7770
Safety-Adjusted Yield 1.99%0.70%
Expense ratio0.07%0.03%
AUM$59.7B$235B
Distribution frequencySemi-AnnualQuarterly
ObjectiveProvide exposure to the fund's underlying index or strategy per issuer materials.Track the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date10/18/201207/20/2007
Beta0.920.98
Last dividend$1.233$0.178
Ex-dividend date06/15/202609/18/2026

Bottom lineChoose IXUS if you want higher current income (2.58% vs 1.00% for VEA). Choose VEA if you want broad equity exposure.

Model this comparison:
Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

Income calculator

See how much monthly income a hypothetical investment would generate in each ETF at current yields.

iShares
ETFs466
Total AUM$4683B

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
ETFs116
Total AUM$4676B

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

Vanguard is one of the largest and most established ETF issuers, known for low-cost, broadly diversified fund offerings built on passive indexing principles. Their lineup spans multiple asset classes and strategies, including core equity and bond index funds, dividend-focused portfolios, ESG-screened options, factor-based strategies, sector exposure, target-date retirement funds, and international investments across developed and emerging markets. The platform is characterized by its emphasis on accessibility and cost efficiency across a comprehensive range of fund families, serving both individual investors seeking broad market exposure and those pursuing specific income, sustainability, or thematic objectives.

See our curated list of related YouTube videos on VEA.

See all Vanguard ETFs

Want to go deeper?

Add these ETFs to a sample portfolio and forecast your dividend income over 5+ years — free to start, no credit card.

Compare in my portfolio Forecast income Save to watchlist

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 2.58% vs 1.00% 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 0.03% compared to 0.07%.

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

VEA is the larger fund by assets ($235B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Who should choose each?

Choose IXUS

iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF

  • Want higher current income — IXUS yields 2.58% vs 1.00% for VEA.
  • Want broad equity exposure.

Choose VEA

Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF

  • Want broad equity exposure.
  • Want to keep costs low — a 0.03% expense ratio vs 0.07% for IXUS.

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, IXUS would generate roughly $129.00 cash per distribution, while VEA would produce $25.00 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates.

IXUS yield2.58%
VEA yield1.00%
Cash diff on $10K$104.00

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, IXUS would cost approximately $70 in fees vs $30 for VEA (simplified, not compounded). The $40.00 difference may be offset by yield or performance.

IXUS ER0.07%
VEA ER0.03%

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 0.92 for IXUS and 0.98 for VEA, making IXUS the less volatile of the two by this measure.

IXUS beta0.92
VEA beta0.98

Fund details

IXUS is managed by iShares (launched 10/18/2012) with $59.7B in assets. VEA is managed by Vanguard (launched 07/20/2007) with $235B in assets.

IXUS AUM$59.7B
VEA AUM$235B
Ready to act?
Open in Comparator Model in portfolio See pricing

Enjoyed this page?

Do us a favor — if you found this comparison useful, please share it with a friend researching dividend ETFs.

Frequently asked questions

What is the current distribution rate for IXUS and VEA?

IXUS currently distributes 2.58% and VEA 1.00%, based on fund data updated October 2026. Distribution rate moves with both the payout and the share price, so check the as-of date before relying on either figure.

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 — 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.

Is IXUS or VEA safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — IXUS scores 77, VEA scores 70, so IXUS's payout currently looks the more resilient of the two. No score makes an investment risk-free — treat this as a screening signal, not a guarantee.

Which has lower fees, IXUS or VEA?

IXUS has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VEA charges 0.03%. 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 $129.00 cash per distribution ($258.00 annually). The same in VEA would produce about $25.00 cash per distribution ($100.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, IXUS or VEA?

IXUS has lagged VEA over the trailing twelve months, posting a 18.61% total return against 20.95%. The lead holds up over 10 years too: VEA has compounded at 9.85% a year, against 9.26% for IXUS. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

IXUS vs VEA — at a glance

Generated October 3, 2026.

Overview

IXUS and VEA are both broad international equity ETFs that exclude the U.S., but they differ in geographic scope and index construction. IXUS tracks the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index, which includes developed and emerging markets across all market capitalizations. VEA tracks the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index, limiting exposure to developed markets only. The result: IXUS holds roughly 30% in emerging markets, while VEA focuses exclusively on Western Europe, Japan, Australia, and other developed economies.

How they differ

The primary difference is market coverage. IXUS captures both developed and emerging-market economies; VEA stops at developed markets, excluding China, India, Brazil, and other high-growth regions entirely. This makes IXUS structurally riskier—higher beta (0.92 vs 0.98), more currency volatility, and greater exposure to political or economic shocks in less-established markets.

Second, income differs sharply. IXUS yields 2.58%, roughly 2.6 times VEA's 1.00%. That gap partly reflects emerging-market dividend policies (which tend to be higher) but also suggests IXUS may carry slightly higher portfolio turnover or tax drag relative to its underlying index. VEA's minimal yield reflects developed-market dividend maturity and conservative payout ratios.

Third, cost and scale diverge. VEA's expense ratio (0.03%) undercuts IXUS (0.07%) by 0.04% and holds $235B in assets versus $59.7B for IXUS. VEA's larger asset base and lower fee suggest deeper institutional adoption and economies of scale at Vanguard.

Who each is best for

IXUS: Fits investors seeking broad international diversification across both mature and emerging economies, willing to accept higher volatility and currency risk in exchange for exposure to faster-growing markets and a higher income yield.

VEA: Fits investors who prefer the stability of developed-market equities—Europe, Japan, Australia—and want minimal fees paired with lower volatility; trade-off is no emerging-market upside and a lower dividend income stream.

Key risks to know

  • Emerging-market concentration in IXUS. With roughly 30% of the fund in China, India, and other non-developed economies, IXUS carries geopolitical, regulatory, and currency risk absent in VEA. Sanctions, capital controls, or accounting opacity can hit specific positions hard.
  • Developed-market sensitivity in VEA. VEA's exclusion of emerging markets leaves it dependent on Western Europe, Japan, and other mature economies facing low growth, demographic headwinds, and policy constraints. A prolonged slowdown in those regions directly hurts returns with no emerging-market hedge.
  • Currency exposure. Both ETFs hold significant non-U.S. dollar holdings. A stronger dollar erodes returns for USD-based investors; a weaker dollar boosts them. IXUS has broader currency diversity (emerging-market FX), while VEA concentrates on euro, yen, and pound movements.
  • Index tracking and turnover. MSCI indices (IXUS) typically have higher turnover and more frequent rebalancing than FTSE indices (VEA). IXUS's slightly higher expense ratio may partly reflect this structural difference.

Bottom line

If you want emerging-market exposure and are comfortable with higher volatility, IXUS's broader mandate and higher yield justify its slightly steeper fee. The choice hinges on whether you see emerging-market growth as essential to your international allocation—not on fund quality, which is solid in both. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

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

Learn the method

The metrics behind this comparison, explained in the Academy.

How to read a fund's stats How expense ratios eat returns Correlation between two funds

Still deciding? Compare them against your own portfolio

See how each ETF fits alongside your real holdings — forecast future income, analyze overlap, and gauge risk. Start a free 7-day Dividend Vision trial and make the call with your full portfolio in view.

Start Free Open in Comparator Browse Screener

These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.