ETF Evaluator:
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF ()
Follow This ETF
(as of Aug 26)
Best Performing in Foreign Large Blend Over the Last Year
| 53.2% | Pacer Nasdaq International Ptnt Ldrs ETF (PATN) |
| 37.0% | Touchstone Dynamic International ETF (TDI) |
| 36.8% | Harbor International Equity ETF (EPIN) |
| 34.8% | First Eagle Overseas Equity ETF (FEOE) |
| 33.8% | Lazard International Dynamic Equity ETF (IDEQ) |
Risk
Index
Risk
Index
ETF Details
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF Overview
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF (VSGX) is a passively managed International Equity Foreign Large Blend exchange-traded fund (ETF). Vanguard launched the ETF in 2018.
The investment seeks to track the performance of the FTSE Global All Cap ex U.S. Choice Index.
The fund invests by sampling the index, meaning that it holds a broadly diversified collection of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full index in terms of key characteristics. The index, which is market capitalization-weighted, is composed of large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks of companies in developed and emerging markets, excluding the United States, that are screened for certain environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria by the index sponsor, which is independent of Vanguard.
About Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF (VSGX)
There are 2 members of the management team with an average tenure of 7.87 years: Christine Franquin (2018) and Scott Geiger (2018). Management tenure is more important for actively managed ETFs than passive index ETFs.
The ETF has 2 primary benchmarks: FTSE Global All Cap ex US TR USD index with a weighting of 100% and FTSE Global All Cap ex USA Choice NR USD index with a weighting of 100%. Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF has 6674 securities in its portfolio. The top 10 holdings constitute 18.8% of the ETF’s assets. The ETF meets the SEC requirement of being classified as a diversified fund. The ETF is considered to have an ESG focus with its investment selection and management.
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF is part of the Equity global asset class and is within the International Equity ETF group. Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF has 97.4% of its portfolio invested in foreign issues. The overall assets allocated to domestic stock is 1.0% There is 97.4% 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). Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF has 1.5% of the portfolio in cash.
Assets Under Management
The fund has $6 billion in total assets, which is below the $9 billion average for the Foreign Large Blend 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.
VSGX 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 Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF expense ratio is low compared to funds in the Foreign Large Blend category. Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF has an expense ratio of 0.10%, which is 75% lower than its category average, making the fund expense ratio grade a A. 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. Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF has a portfolio turnover rate of 8%, which indicates that it holds its assets around / 0.1 years. By way of comparison, the average portfolio turnover is 38% for the Foreign Large Blend category.
Recently, in the month of July 2026, Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF returned -2.6%, which earned it a grade of F, as the Foreign Large Blend category had an average return of 1.1%. 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.
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF has a trailing yield of 2.99%, which is above the 2.56% category average.
The fund normally distributes its income quarterly.
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.
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF Grades
Year to date, the ETF has returned 13.4%, 1.3 percentage points better than the category, which translates into a grade of B. The fund has returned 28.2% over the past year (grade of B), 16.9% over the past three years (grade of C) and 8.1% per year over the past five years (grade of D).
For more ETF grades, analysis and screening tools to help your investment discovery, join AAII for a $2, full-access trial. Learn more here: https://invest.aaii.com/membership.
Otherwise, for more information about Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF, including its riskiness, submit your email to unlock the rest of the article.
Gain access to exclusive AAII member-only content.
VSGX Trailing NAV Total Returns Data as of 7/31/26
| Last Month |
Last Quarter |
Ann'l. 1Yr |
Ann'l. 3Yr |
Ann'l. 5Yr |
Ann'l. 10Yr |
|
| VSGX Return (NAV) | -2.6% | 3.9% | 28.2% | 16.9% | 8.1% | na |
| VSGX Return (Price) | -2.7% | 3.6% | 27.7% | 16.9% | 8.0% | na |
| NAV +/- Price Return | 0.130% | 0.308% | 0.460% | 0.026% | 0.070% | na |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 1.1% | 4.4% | 25.0% | 16.4% | 9.2% | 9.3% |
| VSGX Grade (NAV) | F | D | B | C | D | na |
| +/- Category (NAV) | -3.7% | -0.4% | 3.2% | 0.5% | -1.1% | na |
| VSGX Tax-Cost Ratio | na | na | 1.0% | 0.9% | 0.9% | na |
VSGX Annual NAV Total ReturnsData as of 7/31/26
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | |
| VSGX Return (NAV) | 13.4% | 31.2% | 5.5% | 15.6% | -18.6% | 7.1% | 13.5% | 22.8% | na | na | na |
| VSGX Return (Price) | 13.5% | 30.8% | 5.7% | 15.6% | -18.6% | 7.3% | 13.0% | 23.0% | na | na | na |
| NAV +/- Price Ret | 0.004% | -0.015% | 0.042% | 0.004% | 0.001% | 0.019% | -0.037% | 1.1% | na | na | na |
| Foreign Large Blend Avg | 12.1% | 31.2% | 5.2% | 16.9% | -14.7% | 10.3% | 8.8% | 22.0% | -13.2% | 24.6% | 1.9% |
| VSGX Grade (NAV) | B | C | B | D | F | F | A | B | na | na | na |
| +/- Category | 1.3% | 0.1% | 0.3% | -1.3% | -3.9% | -3.2% | 4.7% | 0.8% | na | na | na |
| Risk Measures | |
| Beta: | 0.98 |
| R-Squared: | 96% |
| Standard Deviation: | 13.7% |
| Category Risk Index: | 1.05 |
| Category Risk Rating: | Above Average |
| Total Risk Index: | 1.12 |
| Total Risk Rating: | Average |
| Portfolio Characteristics | |
| Yield: | 3.0% |
| Total Assets: | $ 6,547 Mil |
| Share Class Assets: | $ 6,547 Mil |
| Turnover: | 8.0% |
| Expense Ratio: | 0.10% |
| Index Fund: | Yes |
| Index Tracked: | FTSE Global All Cap ex US TR USD |
| Index Weighting: | 100% |
| Leveraged: | No |
| Socially Responsible Fund: | Yes |
| Capital Gains Distribution Frequency: | |
| Income Distribution Frequency: | Quarterly |
Management Team
| Number of Managers: 2 | |||
| Longest Tenure: 7.9 years | |||
| Average Tenure: 7.9 years | |||
| Managers (Year): Franquin Christine (2018), Geiger Scott (2018) | |||
Portfolio Composition (as of 6/30/26)
| # of Holdings: | 6674 |
| % in Top 10 Holdings: | 18.8% |
| Fund is Non-Diversified: | No |
| % in Foreign Issues: | 97.4% |
Portfolio Allocation |
|
| Domestic Stock: | 1.0% |
| Foreign Stock: | 97.4% |
| Preferred Stock: | 0.0% |
| Domestic Bond: | 0.0% |
| Foreign Bond: | 0.0% |
| Convertible Bond: | 0.0% |
| Other: | 0.1% |
| Cash: | 1.5% |
Purchase Information
| Legal Structure: | Open Ended Investment Company |
| Fund Family: | Vanguard |
| Phone Number: | 866-499-8473 |
| Website: | www.vanguard.com |
| Inception Date: | September 18, 2018 |
Expenses and Fees
| Expense Ratio (%): | 0.10% (Rating: Low) |
| Category Average Expense Ratio (%): | 0.40% |
