The State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (NYSEMKT:SPDW) focuses strictly on developed economies with a razor-thin fee, while the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ:VXUS) provides broader global coverage by including emerging markets.
Both State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF serve as core building blocks for international equity exposure. While the SPDR fund targets developed markets to maintain a lower cost profile, the Vanguard fund provides a much wider net. With $163.2 billion in assets under management (AUM), the Vanguard fund is significantly larger, though both offer deep liquidity for long-term investors.
Snapshot (cost & size)
Beta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield as of the close of the trading day of Nov. 2, 2026.
The SPDR portfolio is slightly more affordable, with an expense ratio of 0.03%. It also provides a higher payout for income-seeking investors, maintaining a yield gap of 0.66 percentage point over the Vanguard fund.
Performance & risk comparison
What's inside
The State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF provides exposure to established economies outside the U.S., with its portfolio concentrated in financial services at 24%, industrials at 17%, and technology at 15%. It holds 2,420 assets, and its largest positions include Sk Hynix (NASDAQ:SKHY) at 1.9%, and ASML Holding (NASDAQ:ASML) at 1.85%, and Roche Holding at 1%. The fund was launched in 2007. State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF has paid $1.52 per share over the trailing 12 months, which, on its recent ~$49.45 share price, works out to a 3.1% yield.
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF provides broader exposure by including both developed and emerging markets, holding 8,901 stocks. Its largest positions include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. at 4.3%, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. at 2%, and SK Hynix at 1.7%. The portfolio is weighted toward financial services 23%, technology 21%, and industrials 15%. The fund was launched in 2011. Vanguard Total International Stock ETF has paid $1.98 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$82.6 share price works out to a 2.4% yield.
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