Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) Performance
VGK total return
Distributions reinvested · as of Oct 23, 2026- YTD
- +5.3% since Dec 31, 2025
- 1 year
- +9.5% total return
- 5 years
- +8.1% a year
- 10 years
- +9.5% a year
- Since first price
- +6.2% a year since 2005
VGK trailing returns vs SPY, QQQ, AGG
| Period | VGK total return | Price only | S&P 500 (SPY) | Nasdaq-100 (QQQ) | U.S. bonds (AGG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 month | −2.0% | −2.0% | −1.0% | −5.0% | +0.9% |
| 3 months | −1.6% | −1.8% | +3.2% | +1.9% | −0.4% |
| 6 months | +1.4% | −0.3% | +7.8% | +8.4% | −1.5% |
| YTD | +5.3% | +3.2% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 1 year | +9.5% | +6.3% | +14.4% | +15.9% | −1.1% |
| 3 years | +68.8%+19.1%/yr | +53.7% | +87.4%+23.3%/yr | +101.4%+26.3%/yr | +16.6%+5.2%/yr |
| 5 years | +47.5%+8.1%/yr | +25.2% | +79.3%+12.4%/yr | +94.0%+14.2%/yr | −0.8%−0.2%/yr |
| 10 years | +148.3%+9.5%/yr | +81.5% | +315.9%+15.3%/yr | +538.9%+20.4%/yr | +14.0%+1.3%/yr |
| 15 years | +221.2%+8.1%/yr | +90.1% | +696.0%+14.8%/yr | +1,299.3%+19.2%/yr | +32.2%+1.9%/yr |
| 20 years | +179.7%+5.3%/yr | +33.0% | +696.9%+10.9%/yr | +1,839.9%+16.0%/yr | +79.6%+3.0%/yr |
| Since inceptionMar 10, 2005 | +265.7%+6.2%/yr | +69.4% | — | — | — |
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: VGK vs SPY
From Mar 10, 2005: VGK grew to $36,565, SPY to $93,129.
Year-end values with distributions reinvested, no taxes or trading costs. Start: first common trading day of both funds.
VGK returns by calendar year
13 of 20 full years positive. Best 2025 (+35.9%), worst 2008 (−44.6%). 2026 is year to date.
VGK annual returns table
| Year | VGK | Largest drop | SPY | QQQ | AGG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026YTD | +5.3% | −12.1% | +12.3% | +15.1% | −1.0% |
| 2025 | +35.9% | −14.3% | +17.7% | +20.8% | +7.2% |
| 2024 | +1.9% | −10.8% | +24.9% | +25.6% | +1.3% |
| 2023 | +20.3% | −12.7% | +26.2% | +54.9% | +5.7% |
| 2022 | −16.0% | −32.3% | −18.2% | −32.6% | −13.0% |
| 2021 | +16.9% | −7.2% | +28.7% | +27.4% | −1.8% |
| 2020 | +5.4% | −37.1% | +18.3% | +48.6% | +7.5% |
| 2019 | +24.9% | −8.5% | +31.2% | +39.0% | +8.5% |
| 2018 | −14.9% | −23.4% | −4.6% | −0.1% | +0.1% |
| 2017 | +27.0% | −2.9% | +21.7% | +32.7% | +3.6% |
| 2016 | −0.4% | −13.6% | +12.0% | +7.1% | +2.4% |
| 2015 | −1.9% | −16.1% | +1.2% | +9.4% | +0.5% |
| 2014 | −7.1% | −16.2% | +13.5% | +19.2% | +6.0% |
| 2013 | +24.3% | −8.8% | +32.3% | +36.6% | −2.0% |
| 2012 | +21.6% | −18.2% | +16.0% | +18.1% | +3.8% |
| 2011 | −11.7% | −30.2% | +1.9% | +3.4% | +7.7% |
| 2010 | +6.1% | −22.8% | +15.1% | +19.9% | +6.4% |
| 2009 | +31.3% | −32.0% | +26.4% | +54.7% | +3.0% |
| 2008 | −44.6% | −56.2% | −36.8% | −41.7% | +7.9% |
| 2007 | +13.3% | −13.1% | +5.1% | +19.0% | +6.6% |
| 2006 | +33.1% | −14.1% | +15.8% | +7.1% | +3.9% |
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.
VGK largest drawdowns
Now 7.2% below the high| Peak | Decline | Bottom | Recovered | Fall | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 31, 2007 | −63.6% | Mar 9, 2009 | Apr 9, 2014 | 1.4 years | 6.4 years |
| Jan 26, 2018 | −37.2% | Mar 18, 2020 | Nov 24, 2020 | 2.1 years | 2.8 years |
| Sep 2, 2021 | −32.7% | Sep 27, 2022 | Feb 22, 2024 | 1.1 years | 2.5 years |
| Jul 3, 2014 | −24.9% | Feb 11, 2016 | May 16, 2017 | 1.6 years | 2.9 years |
| Mar 18, 2025 | −14.3% | Apr 8, 2025 | May 2, 2025 | 21 days | 45 days |
| May 10, 2006 | −14.1% | Jun 13, 2006 | Oct 4, 2006 | 34 days | 5 months |
Declines from a closing high (distributions reinvested) of 10% or more. Underwater = time from the peak until the old high was regained.
VGK risk statistics
| Statistic | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | Since 2005 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annualized return | +18.0% | +9.3% | +9.3% | +6.4% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2% | 17.1% | 16.8% | 18.5% |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.00 | 0.40 | 0.48 | — |
| Sortino ratio | 1.65 | 0.60 | 0.72 | — |
| Best month | +9.8% | +13.5% | +16.4% | +16.4% |
| Worst month | −8.2% | −9.9% | −16.7% | −21.8% |
| Best 12 months | +35.9% | +35.9% | +49.0% | +58.5% |
| Worst 12 months | +1.9% | −27.0% | −27.0% | −52.9% |
| Positive months | 72% | 63% | 62% | 60% |
| Beta vs S&P 500 | 0.62 | 0.84 | 0.89 | — |
| Correlation with S&P 500 | 0.58 | 0.77 | 0.81 | — |
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.
VGK rolling returns
| Holding period | Periods | Worst | Median | Best | Positive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-year | 248 | −52.9% | +10.6% | +58.5% | 67% |
| 3-year (a year) | 224 | −15.3% | +5.6% | +24.0% | 77% |
| 5-year (a year) | 200 | −8.1% | +5.2% | +19.8% | 86% |
| 10-year (a year) | 140 | +0.4% | +5.2% | +10.6% | 100% |
Every holding period starting at a month-end since 2005. Returns for 3 years and longer are annualized.
VGK performance overview
Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF (VGK) returned +9.5% over the past year and +9.5% a year over ten years, with distributions reinvested. Since its first recorded price in 2005 it has returned +6.2% a year, turning $10,000 into about $36,565. Over the same year S&P 500 (SPY) returned +14.4%.
The deepest decline was −63.6%, from Oct 31, 2007 to Mar 9, 2009, and it took 5.1 years to get back to the old high. VGK finished 13 of its 20 full calendar years with a gain; the best year was 2025 (+35.9%) and the worst 2008 (−44.6%). Volatility has been 18.5% a year.
Related: VGK chart, VGK holdings, VGK dividends. See the VGK overview for the latest quote and fund facts.
VGK performance FAQ
What is the VGK return over the past year?
VGK returned +9.5% over the 12 months to October 23, 2026, including reinvested distributions. On price alone it rose 6.3%.
What is the average annual return of VGK?
VGK has returned +8.1% a year over 5 years, +9.5% a year over 10 years, +6.2% a year since March 10, 2005 (total return, distributions reinvested).
How much would $10,000 invested in VGK be worth?
$10,000 invested in VGK at its first recorded close on March 10, 2005 would be worth about $36,565 on October 23, 2026 with distributions reinvested.
What was the worst year for VGK?
The worst calendar year was 2008, with a total return of −44.6%. The best was 2025 at +35.9%.
What is the biggest drawdown of VGK?
The largest peak-to-trough decline was −63.6% between October 31, 2007 and March 9, 2009. It recovered to the old high on April 9, 2014, 5.1 years after the bottom.
How volatile is VGK?
Over the past 3 years VGK had an annualized volatility of 13.2% and a Sharpe ratio of 1.00 (excess return over 1–3 month T-bills per unit of risk).