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Higher Returns with Lower Risk: The SectorSurfer Advantage

VT Vanguard Total World Stock ETF

Category: Large Cap Growth Equities

Inception: 2008-06-24 Issuer: Vanguard
Net Assets
$54.2B
Expense Ratio
0.06 %
# of Holdings
9
Average Daily Volume
2.39M

Fund Overview

The Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) is a globally diversified equity fund that provides exposure to both developed and emerging markets. It seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Global All Cap Index, which includes large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks across approximately 50 countries. VT offers investors a simple way to gain broad international equity exposure in a single fund, covering about 98% of the global investable market capitalization. The fund is passively managed, aiming to replicate the index's performance with low costs, making it a core holding for long-term investors seeking worldwide diversification.
Asset Class
Equity
Industry
N/A
Annual Dividend Rate
Smart Beta
No
Leveraged / Inverse
N/A / No
Dividend Quality - Yield
 - N/A
Currency Hedged
No
Portfolio Turnover
3 %
Dividend Date

Why Invest in the VT ETF?

Potential Benefits

  • Provides broad exposure to global equities, reducing single-country or regional risk.
  • Low expense ratio (0.07% as of 2025) compared to most global equity funds.
  • Includes both developed and emerging markets, capturing global growth opportunities.
  • Passively managed, minimizing turnover and tracking error relative to its benchmark.
  • Highly liquid with tight bid-ask spreads, facilitating easy trading.
  • Diversified across market caps (large, mid, and small) for comprehensive coverage.

Potential Risks

  • Subject to currency fluctuations due to its international holdings.
  • Emerging market exposure introduces higher political and economic risks.
  • No control over country or sector allocations, which are market-cap weighted.
  • May underperform during periods when U.S. stocks outperform global markets.
  • Dividends may be subject to foreign withholding taxes.
  • Small-cap and emerging market stocks can be more volatile than large-cap developed market equities.

Performance

1 Week 1 Month 1 Year 3 Years 5 Years YTD 2025 2024 Since Inception
-0.56% -0.36% +16.62% +81.55% +73.21% +12.94% +22.68% +17.49% +371.00%

Performance


Monthly Returns (%)

Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2026 +3.1% +1.6% -6.2% +9.3% +4.6% -0.4% -0.7% +3.0% -1.4% +0.8% - -
2025 +3.1% -0.4% -3.5% +0.6% +5.8% +4.7% +1.1% +3.0% +3.4% +2.0% +0.2% +0.9%
2024 0.0% +4.5% +3.2% -3.6% +4.6% +1.6% +2.0% +2.3% +2.2% -2.2% +4.1% -2.9%
2023 +7.6% -3.2% +2.8% +1.4% -1.2% +5.8% +3.7% -2.8% -4.3% -2.9% +9.0% +5.2%
2022 -4.6% -2.8% +1.9% -8.1% +0.5% -8.1% +7.0% -4.1% -9.5% +6.4% +8.3% -4.4%
2021 -0.2% +2.7% +2.8% +4.1% +1.6% +1.2% +0.6% +2.3% -4.1% +5.1% -2.6% +3.8%
2020 -1.6% -7.2% -14.8% +10.4% +5.2% +3.1% +5.3% +6.0% -2.9% -2.0% +12.4% +4.9%
2019 +8.0% +2.8% +1.1% +3.5% -6.0% +6.4% 0.0% -2.1% +2.3% +2.8% +2.6% +3.5%
2018 +5.5% -4.4% -1.3% +0.4% +0.6% -0.6% +2.9% +0.9% +0.1% -7.8% +1.7% -7.2%
2017 +3.0% +2.7% +1.5% +1.6% +1.9% +0.6% +2.7% +0.4% +2.1% +2.1% +1.9% +1.6%
< -5% -5% to -2% -2% to 0% 0% 0% to +2% +2% to +5% > +5%

Top Holdings (by weight)

Symbol Company Name Weight
AAPL APPLE INC 4.1 %
NVDA NVIDIA CORP 3.6 %
MSFT MICROSOFT CORP 3.6 %
AMZN AMAZON.COM INC 2.4 %
META META PLATFORMS INC CLASS A 1.5 %
GOOGL ALPHABET INC CLASS A 1.3 %
TSLA TESLA INC 1.3 %
AVGO BROADCOM INC 1.2 %
GOOG ALPHABET INC CLASS C 1.1 %
BRK-B BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC CLASS B 0.8 %
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 9 total holdings.

Related ETFs: VT vs Peers

ETF Full Name Expense Ratio Net Assets Holdings Asset Class
ACWI iShares MSCI ACWI ETF 0.32 % $18.8B 2 Equity
EFA iShares MSCI EAFE ETF 0.32 % $57.3B 697 Equity
IEFA iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF 0.07 % $127.6B 2 Equity
IOO iShares Global 100 ETF 0.40 % $6.1B 103 Equity
IXUS iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF 0.07 % $39.9B 4 Equity
SCHF Schwab International Equity ETF 0.06 % $42.8B 1 Equity
SPGM SPDR Portfolio MSCI Global Stock Market ETF 0.09 % $953.6M 2 Equity
URTH iShares MSCI World ETF 0.24 % $4.2B 1 Equity
VEU Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Index Fund 0.04 % $59.5B 3 Equity
VXUS Vanguard Total International Stock ETF 0.05 % $455.4B 8 Equity
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.

Investment Strategy

VT tracks the FTSE Global All Cap Index, a market-cap-weighted benchmark representing nearly the entire global equity market. The index includes approximately 9,000 stocks across developed and emerging markets, covering about 98% of the world's investable market capitalization. The fund holds stocks in proportion to their weight in the index, with no active stock selection. It invests directly in underlying securities rather than using derivatives. VT is rebalanced quarterly to maintain alignment with the index, with adjustments made for corporate actions and index changes between rebalancing periods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does VT include U.S. stocks?

Yes, VT includes U.S. stocks at their global market weight (approximately 60% of the fund as of 2025), along with international equities.

How often does VT pay dividends?

VT pays quarterly dividends, typically in March, June, September, and December, consisting of distributions from its global stock holdings.

What percentage of VT is in emerging markets?

As of 2025, emerging markets comprise about 10-12% of VT's portfolio, reflecting their weight in the global equity market.

Is VT a good fund for beginner investors?

Yes, VT's simplicity, diversification, and low cost make it an excellent choice for beginners seeking global equity exposure in a single fund.

How does VT's performance compare to the S&P 500?

VT's performance will differ from the S&P 500 due to its international exposure; it may underperform when U.S. stocks lead global markets but provides diversification benefits over full market cycles.

Industry Overview

The Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (VT) provides exposure to the global equity market, encompassing developed and emerging economies. Investing in VT allows participation in worldwide economic growth while mitigating country-specific risks through diversification. The fund's broad mandate makes it suitable for investors seeking a 'set-and-forget' approach to international equities. As globalization continues, VT offers a way to capitalize on growth across all regions without needing to predict which markets will outperform.

Alternative Comparison

Compared to ACWI (iShares MSCI ACWI ETF), VT offers slightly broader exposure by including small-cap stocks, which ACWI excludes. Both have similar expense ratios (0.07% for VT vs. 0.20% for ACWI as of 2025). For investors wanting separate control over U.S. and international allocations, pairing VTI (U.S. total market) with VXUS (international) provides similar exposure but allows customized weightings. Unlike some global ETFs that exclude emerging markets or small-caps, VT provides truly comprehensive coverage across all market segments.

Issuer Overview

Vanguard is one of the world's largest investment management companies, known for its client-owned structure and low-cost index funds. Founded by John Bogle in 1975, Vanguard pioneered index investing for individual investors. The company manages over $8 trillion in global assets as of 2025 and is recognized for its investor-first philosophy, evidenced by consistently low expense ratios across its fund lineup.

Conclusion

VT represents one of the most efficient ways to gain diversified global equity exposure in a single fund. Its comprehensive coverage, low cost, and passive approach make it an excellent core holding for long-term investors. While it carries typical international equity risks, its broad diversification helps mitigate single-country or sector risks. Investors should consider VT as part of a balanced portfolio aligned with their risk tolerance and investment horizon.

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