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ETF Comparison

VEA vs VTI: Abroad in Developed Markets, or the Whole US?

A head-to-head of Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets and Vanguard Total Stock Market covering country mix, cost, and why they are not substitutes.

Updated October 2, 2026

How these figures are calculated: methodology.

Best for

  • VEAInvestors who want broad equity exposure.
  • VTIInvestors who want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost.

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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

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.

VEA has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.95% total return against 16.09%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VTI has compounded at 14.86% a year, ahead of VEA at 9.85%. 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 Jul 2007Volatility Sharpe Sortino Max drawdown
VEA13.61%20.95%21.80%10.38%9.85%5.20%15.8%0.971.41-13.5%
VTI13.35%16.09%22.79%12.47%14.86%10.90%15.4%1.051.52-19.3%

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 Jul 2007” measures every fund from July 26, 2007 — 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.
MetricVEAVTI
Full nameVanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETFVanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
IssuerVanguardVanguard
Underlying indexFTSE Developed All Cap ex US IndexMorningstar US Total Market Index
Last Close$71.13 as of October 2, 2026$377.99 as of October 2, 2026
Distribution rate1.00%1.01%
Trailing 12-month yield2.40%1.04%
Distribution Safety Score™ 70100
Safety-Adjusted Yield 0.70%1.01%
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
AUM$235B$700B
Distribution frequencyQuarterlyQuarterly
ObjectiveTrack the FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index.Seeks to track the Morningstar US Total Market Index.
Asset classEquityEquity
Inception date07/20/200705/24/2001
Beta0.981.0379
Last dividend$0.178$0.9555
Ex-dividend date09/18/202609/28/2026

Bottom lineChoose VEA if you want broad equity exposure. Choose VTI if you want the broadest one-fund diversification at rock-bottom cost.

VEA vs VTI: developed markets or the whole US?

VTI is the US total market. VEA is developed markets outside the US. Geography, not a yield race.

VEAVTI
GeographyDeveloped markets ex-USUS total stock market
Expense ratio0.03%0.03%
Distribution rate1.00%1.01%
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Income calculator

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

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 and VTI.

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Quick verdict

VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) and VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) are both quarterly-pay dividend ETFs, but they take different approaches.

VTI offers the higher yield at 1.01% vs 1.00% for VEA. A higher yield means more current income per dollar invested, though it may come with different risk characteristics.

They have different reference exposures: VEA is linked to FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index while VTI is linked to Morningstar US Total Market Index, which means their performance drivers differ.

VTI is the larger fund by assets ($700B), but assets alone do not establish trading costs or liquidity.

Deep dive

Yield & income

On a $10,000 investment, VEA would generate roughly $25.00 cash per distribution, while VTI would produce $25.25 cash per distribution, at current distribution rates. Both pay quarterly distributions.

VEA yield1.00%
VTI yield1.01%
Cash diff on $10K$0.25

Cost & efficiency

Over 10 years on $10,000, VEA would cost approximately $30 in fees vs $30 for VTI (simplified, not compounded). Both charge the same expense ratio.

VEA ER0.03%
VTI ER0.03%

Strategy & risk

VEA tracks FTSE Developed All Cap ex US Index with an international approach, while VTI tracks Morningstar US Total Market Index. Beta is 0.98 for VEA and 1.0379 for VTI, making VEA the less volatile of the two by this measure.

VEA beta0.98
VTI beta1.0379

Fund details

VEA is managed by Vanguard (launched 07/20/2007) with $235B in assets. VTI is managed by Vanguard (launched 05/24/2001) with $700B in assets.

VEA AUM$235B
VTI AUM$700B
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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between VEA and VTI?

VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF) is the US total stock market. VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF) is developed markets outside the US. Different countries, not two versions of the same fund. Cost is 0.03% versus 0.03%; distributions are 1.00% and 1.01% as of October 2026. Geography is the decision.

What is the current distribution rate for VEA and VTI?

VEA currently distributes 1.00% and VTI 1.01%, 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 VEA or VTI better for dividend income?

It depends on your goals. VTI 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.

Can I hold both VEA and VTI?

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 VEA or VTI safer?

By Dividend Vision's Distribution Safety Score — a rules-based 0–100 estimate of how resilient a distribution looks, where higher is safer — VTI scores 100, VEA scores 70, so VTI'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, VEA or VTI?

VEA and VTI both charge the same expense ratio of 0.03%, so neither is cheaper on fees — pick based on yield, strategy, or underlying index instead.

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

At current rates, $10,000 in VEA would generate roughly $25.00 cash per distribution ($100.00 annually). The same in VTI would produce about $25.25 cash per distribution ($101.00 annually).

Which has performed better historically, VEA or VTI?

VEA has outpaced VTI over the trailing twelve months, posting a 20.95% total return against 16.09%. The picture flips over 10 years, though — VTI has compounded at 14.86% a year, ahead of VEA at 9.85%. Figures are total returns: price change plus every distribution reinvested. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

More comparisons to explore

VEA vs VTI — at a glance

Generated October 3, 2026.

Overview

VEA and VTI are both broad-market Vanguard index ETFs that track different geographic universes: VEA holds developed markets outside the U.S., while VTI captures the entire U.S. stock market from large caps through micro caps. Both charge 0.03%, distribute quarterly, and track passive indexes, but they serve opposite roles in a portfolio's geographic allocation.

How they differ

The fundamental distinction is geography. stocks. Their distributions are nearly identical—1.00% for VEA versus 1.01% for VTI—and both charge 0.03% in expense ratios. VTI is substantially larger, with $700B in assets compared to VEA's $235B, and has traded longer (since 05/24/2001 versus 07/20/2007). VTI's beta of 1.0379 reflects its broad U.S. market tilt; VEA's 0.98 tracks closer to developed-market benchmark momentum.

Who each is best for

VEA: Investors building a core portfolio who already own U.S. equity exposure and want to add developed-markets diversification with minimal cost. The fund suits allocations that deliberately segment geographic risk.

VTI: Investors seeking a single-ticket U.S. equity foundation that captures market-wide returns without manually weighting large, mid, small, and micro caps. Fits those who prefer simplicity in the domestic sleeve of a global allocation.

Key risks to know

  • Currency risk for VEA. Movements in the euro, pound, yen, and other foreign currencies will shift the dollar value of holdings independent of stock performance. A strengthening U.S. dollar typically dampens VEA returns for dollar-based investors.
  • Geographic concentration in developed markets. VEA excludes emerging markets and the U.S., so it carries no exposure to faster-growing economies or to the world's largest equity market. A prolonged outperformance of U.S. equities relative to developed ex-U.S. peers will drag VEA's relative return.
  • Overlap in a combined portfolio. If held together, the two funds have material overlap in multinationals and global supply chains. Holdings correlation deserves verification to ensure the intended diversification benefit actually exists.
  • Beta divergence under stress. VTI's beta of 1.0379 and VEA's 0.98 suggest slightly different equity-market sensitivity. During corrections, VTI may experience sharper price swings if U.S.-traded equities react more severely than developed non-U.S. markets.

Bottom line

If you want the broadest possible U.S. market in one fund, VTI delivers that simplicity; if you're building a core allocation and want to add developed ex-U.S. exposure as a deliberate geographic hedge, VEA is the low-cost vehicle to do so. The choice hinges on whether your goal is a single-country comprehensive portfolio or a geographically layered one. Past performance does not predict 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

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These comparisons follow the Dividend Vision methodology.