ETF Evaluator:
VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF (ESPO)
Follow This ETF
(as of Jul 31)
Best Performing in Communications Over the Last Year
| 97.2% | State Street® SPDR® S&P® Telecom ETF (XTL) |
| 45.0% | iShares US Telecommunications ETF (IYZ) |
| 13.0% | Fidelity Disruptive Communications ETF (FDCF) |
| 8.9% | Fidelity Metaverse ETF (FMET) |
| 8.8% | Vanguard Communication Services ETF (VOX) |
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ETF Details
VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF Overview
VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF (ESPO) is a passively managed Sector Equity Communications exchange-traded fund (ETF). VanEck launched the ETF in 2018.
The investment seeks to replicate as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the MVIS® Global Video Gaming & eSports Index (the "index").
The fund normally invests at least 80% of its total assets in securities that comprise the fund's benchmark index. The index is a global index that tracks the performance of the global video gaming and eSports (also known as electronic sports) segment. The fund may invest in depositary receipts and securities denominated in foreign currencies. It is non-diversified.
About VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF (ESPO)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 5.06 years: Peter Liao (2018) and Griffin Driscoll (2024). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: MSCI ACWI NR USD index with a weighting of 100% and MVIS Gbl VG & eSport USD index with a weighting of 100%. VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF has 29 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 61.0% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a nondiversified fund. The ETF is not considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the Sector Equity ETF group. VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF has 70.7% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 29.4% There is 70.7% allocated to foreign stock, and 0.0% is allocated to preferred stocks. The bond allocation as a percentage of total assets is 0.0% (0.0% domestic bond, 0.0% foreign bond and 0.0% convertible bond). VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF has -0.1% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $238 million in total assets, which is below the $1 billion average for the Communications category. Normally, lower assets under management translates to higher average expense ratios, and greater total assets are desired. However, for some investment categories, such as small-cap investing, it may be difficult for the manager to fully employ the desired active strategy if assets grow too large or too quickly.
ESPO Performance and Fees
The expense ratio measures how much of a fund’s assets are used for administrative expenses and operating expenses, including adviser fees and fees for the transfer agent and custodial services. The VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF expense ratio is average compared to funds in the Communications category. VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF has an expense ratio of 0.55%, which is 31% higher than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a D. While it is difficult to predict returns, it is known that high annual expense ratios reduce your rate of return, and excessive fees are difficult to overcome. Active management normally comes with higher expense ratios than passive index management. Certain investment categories such as small company and foreign also normally have higher expense ratios. It is best to compare fund expense ratios against the category averages for meaningful assessments.
High portfolio turnover can translate to higher expenses and lower aftertax returns. VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 53%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.0 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 36% for the Communications category.
Recently, in the month of June 2026, VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF returned 0.8%, which earned it a grade of A, as the Communications category had an average return of -5.0%. The letter grades of A, B, C, D and F are based upon relative rankings within the investment category. A grade of A, for example, would indicate that the return is in the highest 20% for that time period compared to all ETFs in that category.
VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF has a trailing yield of 1.43%, which is above the 1.05% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income annually.
It’s natural to seek the best-performing investments, but you must consider the relationship between risk and return and the impact of costs and taxes on your realized returns.
VanEck Vdo Gaming and eSprts ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned -13.2%, 8.9 percentage points worse than the category, which translates into a grade of D. The fund has returned -16.3% over the past year (grade of D), 18.4% over the past three years (grade of C) and 5.9% per year over the past five years (grade of C).
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ESPO Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 6/30/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| ESPO Return (NAV) | 0.8% | -0.1% | -16.3% | 18.4% | 5.9% | na |
| ESPO Return (Price) | 0.7% | -0.8% | -17.1% | 18.2% | 5.8% | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 0.149% | 0.684% | 0.719% | 0.138% | 0.061% | na |
| Communications Avg | -5.0% | 4.8% | 3.6% | 17.2% | 3.3% | 9.9% |
| ESPO Grade (NAV) | A | D | D | C | C | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | 5.9% | -5.0% | -19.9% | 1.2% | 2.5% | na |
| ESPO Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 0.5% | 0.4% | 0.6% | na |
ESPO Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 6/30/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| ESPO Return (NAV) | -13.2% | 26.1% | 47.1% | 33.4% | -34.4% | -1.9% | 84.3% | 41.6% | na | na | na |
| ESPO Return (Price) | -13.4% | 25.8% | 47.6% | 33.6% | -34.7% | -2.1% | 83.9% | 42.3% | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | 0.012% | -0.013% | 0.010% | 0.008% | 0.008% | 0.084% | -0.004% | 1.9% | na | na | na |
| Communications Avg | -4.3% | 27.4% | 24.2% | 28.0% | -35.6% | 6.9% | 48.0% | 24.4% | -11.9% | 15.4% | 17.9% |
| ESPO Grade (NAV) | D | D | A | C | B | D | A | A | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | -8.9% | -1.2% | 23.0% | 5.4% | 1.2% | -8.9% | 36.2% | 17.1% | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 0.91 |
| R-Squared: | 36% |
| Standard Deviation: | 19.2% |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.05 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Above Average |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.58 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Above Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 1.4% |
| Total Assets: | $ 239 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 239 Mil |
| Turnover: | 53.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.55% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | MSCI ACWI NR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | No |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Annually |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 7.7 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 5.1 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Liao Peter (2018), Driscoll Griffin (2024) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 29 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 61.0% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | Yes |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 70.7% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 29.4% |
| Foreign Stock: | 70.7% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.0% |
| Cash: | -0.1% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | VanEck |
| Phone Number: | 800-826-2333 |
| Website: | www.marketvectorsetfs.com |
| Inception Date: | October 16, 2018 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.55% (Rating: Avg) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.42% |
