VEA vs VWO ETF Comparison
Compare VEA and VWO across fund costs, diversification, holdings, performance, income, risk and current AlgovestIQ evidence.
What is the main difference between VEA and VWO?
VEA is Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF, while VWO is Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF. VEA is tied to International Equity; VWO is tied to Emerging Markets Equity. VWO is broader by holdings count, with 4,555 positions versus 3,831 for VEA. VWO is more concentrated at the top, based on top-10 holdings weight.
| Metric | VEA | VWO | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.06% | Fund |
| Assets under management | $315.0B | $162.3B | Fund |
| Holdings | 3,831 | 4,555 | Fund |
| Top-10 concentration | 14.5% | 27.1% | Fund |
| Average volume | 14,071,293 | 10,944,892 | Fund |
| Underlying exposure | International Equity | Emerging Markets Equity | Fund |
| Annualized volatility | 17.4% | 17.6% | Risk |
| Max drawdown | -11.8% | -11.2% | Risk |
| Beta | 1.08 | 1.10 | Risk |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.19 | 0.82 | Risk |
| Sortino ratio | 1.72 | 1.16 | Risk |
| AIQ Score | 67/100 | 69/100 | AlgovestIQ |
| AIQ Edge Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | AlgovestIQ |
| Momentum | 60/100 | 70/100 | AlgovestIQ |
| Risk Resilience | 84/100 | 80/100 | AlgovestIQ |
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF vs Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF
VWO leads
VWO leads by 2 AIQ points, primarily on Momentum, having only recently taken the lead back from VEA.
Fragile: 0 of 4 evidence groups support VWO, the lead recently changed hands, and its signal state is cleanly positive.
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors VWO over VEA, 69 versus 67 as of Sep 5, 2026. VWO's advantage is driven primarily by stronger momentum, while VEA holds the stronger risk resilience profile. VWO also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 0 of 4 covered evidence groups favor VWO today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. VWO lead: Reversed — VEA led by 1 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; VWO now leads by 2.
Compare Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF and Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF across performance, expense ratio, dividend yield, drawdown, volatility and the Algovestiq AIQ Score.
Compare VEA and VWO against another ticker
Open a multi-ticker workspace without changing this focused pair page.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Momentum25%60 vs 70VWO +10
- Risk Resilience15%84 vs 80VEA +4
- Quality30%77 vs 74Even
- Value30%54 vs 57Even
0 of 4 evidence groups favor VWO. VWO’s edge is concentrated in momentum; VEA keeps a meaningful risk resilience edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-03, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-02.
Largest factor move: Momentum +6
No new signals fired.
Largest factor move: Momentum +4
No new signals fired.
VWO's lead narrowed by 1 AIQ points in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — VEA and VWO both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
VWO (Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF): the stronger current systematic profile, led by momentum.
VEA (Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF): the counter-case, on risk resilience.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
VWOVWO on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value at 30% each.
Growth
EvenGrowth figures are not covered for both names.
Value
EvenThe two are level on Value.
Momentum
VWOVWO on the Momentum factor, by 10 points.
Lower downside
VEAVEA on Risk Resilience, by 4 points.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
Fund facts, side by side
Two funds tracking overlapping universes are separated by cost and risk far more than by holdings. Those lead here.
| Measure | VEA | VWO | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.03% | 0.06% | Lower is better — it compounds against you every year you hold. |
| Assets under management | $315.0B | $162.3B | Larger funds generally carry tighter spreads. |
| Holdings | 3,873 | 5,942 | More holdings means broader diversification, not better returns. |
| Average volume | 14,071,293 | 10,944,892 | Liquidity — matters most if you trade size. |
| Annualized volatility | 17.4% | 17.6% | Lower is a steadier ride for the same exposure. |
| Max drawdown | -11.8% | -11.2% | The worst peak-to-trough loss on record for the fund. |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.19 | 0.82 | Return per unit of risk. Higher is better. |
| Beta | 1.08 | 1.10 | Sensitivity to the broad market. Neither direction is better — it depends on the role in your portfolio. |
Where the exposure actually sits
VEA and VWO share 0% of their weighted exposure across 0 common holdings.
VWO is the more concentrated of the two: its ten largest positions are 27.1% of the fund, against 14.46% for VEA (4555 holdings vs 3831). Concentration cuts both ways — it is what drives outperformance when the top names work, and what makes the drawdown deeper when they do not.
3831 holdings are unique to VEA and 4555 to VWO. Owning both is genuinely additive — most of the capital sits in different securities.
ETF comparison questions
Short answers to the fund-specific questions behind this comparison.
Which ETF is more diversified, VEA or VWO?
VWO currently has more reported holdings, with 4,555 positions versus 3,831.
Which has the lower expense ratio?
VEA has the lower reported expense ratio in the current fund profile.
Which ETF has the higher distribution yield?
The current dataset does not show a higher-yield winner.
Which ETF has been more volatile?
VWO has the higher annualized volatility in the current risk snapshot.
Which ETF has had the smaller drawdown?
VWO has the less severe max drawdown in the current risk snapshot.
Which ETF has the stronger current AlgovestIQ evidence?
VWO currently leads on supporting AlgovestIQ evidence, 69 to 67.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
0 of 4 covered evidence groups favor VWO. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | Even | 67 vs 69 |
| Fundamentals | Not covered | Not covered |
| Valuation | Even | Value 54 vs 57 |
| Technicals | Even | Price vs 50-day 3% vs 3.3%; vs 200-day 8.4% vs 6.4% |
| Risk Resilience | VEA | Risk Resilience 84 vs 80 |
| Analyst expectations | Not covered | Not covered |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of VEA and VWO and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- Only 0 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has already changed hands inside the comparison window. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader's signal state is cleanly positive. (supports the conclusion holding)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on VWO.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Apr 22 – Sep 3VWO lead: Reversed — VEA led by 1 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; VWO now leads by 2.
- Today
- VWO +2
- 67 vs 69
- 7 sessions ago
- Level
- 68 vs 68
- 30 sessions ago
- VEA +1
- 71 vs 70
- 90 sessions ago
- VEA +1
- 67 vs 66
The lead changed hands 2 times in this window, most recently on Aug 20 when VEA moved ahead of VWO.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
4 bullish / 1 bearish / 2 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (5.66%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
5 bullish / 0 bearish / 2 neutral
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (3.75%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
VEA is conflicted, so the timing case there is weaker than the score alone suggests.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +0.44%, AIQ +2 points).
Price and the AIQ Score both moved up over the latest session (price +0.74%, AIQ +1 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1VEA closes the Momentum gap — currently 10 points behind, the largest single contributor to VWO's edge.
- 2VEA's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend.
- 3VWO's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — the composite weights Quality and Value at 30% each, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Technicals
Split| Metric | VEA | VWO |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 48.9 | 60.1 |
| ADX (14) | 12.7 | 11.6 |
| Price vs 50-day | 3% | 3.3% |
| Price vs 200-day | 8.4% | 6.4% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 12.1% | 9.4% |
Risk
VEA is the more resilient| Metric | VEA | VWO |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 1.08 | 1.1 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.19 | 0.82 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.72 | 1.16 |
| Max drawdown | -11.8% | -11.2% |
| Current drawdown | -0.5% | -0.4% |
| Annualized volatility | 17.4% | 17.6% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -1.7% | -1.7% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, VEA or VWO?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, VWO is the stronger of the two as of Sep 5, 2026, scoring 69 against VEA's 67. The edge comes from momentum. VEA is not without a case — it holds the better risk resilience profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is VEA or VWO the better buy right now?
VWO carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 5, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 0 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: the AIQ gap is narrow at 2 points. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor VWO over VEA?
The composite weights Quality at 30%, Value at 30%, Momentum at 25% and Risk Resilience at 15%. VWO leads Momentum by 10 points; VEA leads Risk Resilience by 4 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which is better value, VEA or VWO?
Neither name separates on the peer-relative Value factor. The two are level on Value. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, VEA or VWO?
Growth figures are not covered for both names. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, VEA or VWO?
VWO on the Momentum factor, by 10 points. Momentum carries 25% of the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, VEA or VWO?
VEA is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. VEA on Risk Resilience, by 4 points. The Risk Resilience factor weights 15% of the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is VEA more profitable than VWO?
Margin data is not comparable for both names in the current snapshot.
Is VWO's lead over VEA getting stronger or weaker?
VWO lead: Reversed — VEA led by 1 AIQ points 30 sessions ago; VWO now leads by 2. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-04-22 and 2026-09-03. The lead has changed hands 2 times in that window, most recently on 2026-08-20, when VEA moved ahead of VWO.
What would change the VEA vs VWO verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: VEA closes the Momentum gap — currently 10 points behind, the largest single contributor to VWO's edge; VEA's Bollinger Band Squeeze turns directional — it is neutral today and would confirm a change in trend; VWO's Golden Cross Active breaks down — it is the strongest rule currently supporting the verdict; a regime shift changes factor weighting — the composite weights Quality and Value at 30% each, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about VEA and VWO?
VEA: 4 bullish / 1 bearish / 2 neutral, conflicted. VWO: 5 bullish / 0 bearish / 2 neutral. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on VEA is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On VWO it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare VEA and VWO with others
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality (30%), Value (30%), Momentum (25%) and Risk (15%). Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.