Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) Performance
VEA total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +11.6% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +16.2% total return
- 5 years
- +9.1% a year
- 10 years
- +9.7% a year
- Since first price
- +5.0% a year since 2007
VEA trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VEA total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −3.3% | −3.3% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −0.8% | −1.0% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +2.8% | +2.0% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +11.6% | +10.5% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +16.2% | +13.2% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +79.0%+21.4%/yr | +63.7% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +54.3%+9.1%/yr | +32.3% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +151.4%+9.7%/yr | +87.3% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +236.1%+8.4%/yr | +109.7% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| Since inceptionJul 26, 2007 | +156.9%+5.0%/yr | +44.2% | — | — | — |
Total return from adjusted closes (distributions reinvested, before tax). Periods of 3 years or more are also shown annualized. Price only excludes distributions.
Growth of $10,000: VEA vs SPY
From Jul 26, 2007: VEA grew to $25,692, SPY to $72,992.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VEA returns by calendar year
12 of 18 full years positive. Best 2025 (+35.2%), worst 2008 (−40.6%). 2026 is year to date.
VEA annual returns table
| Year | VEA | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +11.6% | −11.6% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +35.2% | −13.5% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +3.1% | −9.4% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +18.0% | −12.1% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −15.3% | −28.8% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +11.7% | −7.1% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +9.7% | −35.3% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +22.6% | −8.0% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −14.7% | −22.8% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +26.4% | −2.2% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | +2.6% | −10.9% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −0.4% | −16.3% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −6.0% | −13.8% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +21.8% | −10.4% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +18.6% | −16.8% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −12.3% | −25.9% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +8.4% | −20.5% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +27.5% | −29.7% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −40.6% | −53.3% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
Largest drop = deepest fall from a high within that calendar year.
Calendar-year return vs largest drop within the year
Most years include a sizable fall at some point even when the year ends higher.
VEA largest drawdowns
Now 6.2% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2007 | −60.7% | Mar 9, 2009 | May 27, 2014 | 1.4 years | 6.6 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −35.7% | Mar 23, 2020 | Nov 16, 2020 | 2.2 years | 2.8 years |
| Sep 3, 2021 | −29.7% | Sep 27, 2022 | Mar 6, 2024 | 1.1 years | 2.5 years |
| May 21, 2015 | −22.3% | Feb 11, 2016 | Apr 25, 2017 | 9 months | 1.9 years |
| Jul 3, 2014 | −14.5% | Jan 6, 2015 | May 15, 2015 | 6 months | 10 months |
| Mar 19, 2025 | −13.5% | Apr 8, 2025 | Apr 28, 2025 | 20 days | 40 days |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VEA risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2007 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +20.9% | +10.3% | +9.7% | +5.2% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1% | 16.2% | 15.5% | 17.8% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.19 | 0.47 | 0.53 | 0.30 |
| Sortino ratio | 2.03 | 0.71 | 0.79 | 0.42 |
| Best month | +8.8% | +12.5% | +14.3% | +14.3% |
| Worst month | −8.6% | −9.9% | −15.2% | −20.6% |
| Best 12 months | +42.3% | +42.3% | +50.9% | +57.1% |
| Worst 12 months | +3.1% | −25.6% | −25.6% | −49.9% |
| Positive months | 67% | 60% | 63% | 58% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.71 | 0.84 | 0.86 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.68 | 0.81 | 0.84 | — |
From monthly total returns. Sharpe and Sortino use 1–3 month T-bills (BIL) as the risk-free rate, so they need history from 2007 on.
VEA rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 220 | −49.9% | +8.4% | +57.1% | 65% |
| 3-year (a year) | 196 | −10.6% | +6.1% | +21.9% | 88% |
| 5-year (a year) | 172 | −5.7% | +6.3% | +17.8% | 92% |
| 10-year (a year) | 112 | +1.4% | +5.6% | +11.0% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2007. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VEA performance overview
Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA) returned +16.2% over the past year and +9.7% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2007 it has returned +5.0% a year, turning $10,000 into about $25,692. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −60.7%, from Oct 31, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 5.2 years to get back to the old high. VEA finished 12 of its 18 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+35.2%) and the worst 2008 (−40.6%). Volatility has been 17.8% a year.
Related: VEA chart, VEA holdings, VEA dividends. See the VEA overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VEA performance FAQ
What is the VEA return over the past year?
VEA returned +16.2% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 13.2%.
What is the average annual return of VEA?
VEA has returned +9.1% a year over 5 years, +9.7% a year over 10 years, +5.0% a year since July 26, 2007 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VEA be worth?
$10,000 invested in VEA at its first recorded close on July 26, 2007 would be worth about $25,692 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VEA?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −40.6%. The best was 2025 at +35.2%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VEA?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −60.7% between October 31, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on May 27, 2014, 5.2 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VEA?
Over the past 3 years VEA had an annualized volatility of 13.1% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.19 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).