1 Vanguard ETF I'm Investing Heavily In for 2026
ETF Performance: The Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF is experiencing significant growth in 2025, with a year-to-date increase of 31.2%, outperforming both the MSCI EAFE and S&P 500 indexes.
Geographic Exposure: The ETF has a substantial allocation to Japanese stocks (21.1%) and European stocks (over 50%), benefiting from pro-market policies in Japan and increased defense spending in Europe, which are expected to drive further growth.
Diversification Benefits: With nearly 3,900 stocks and a low expense ratio of 0.03%, the ETF offers investors a diversified portfolio that can enhance U.S.-heavy investment strategies.
Investment Considerations: While the ETF is a strong option, the Motley Fool's Stock Advisor has identified other stocks that may offer higher potential returns, suggesting investors should weigh their options carefully.
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- AI Fears Impacting Stocks: Concerns about artificial intelligence are affecting tech-related stocks, indicating a shift in market sentiment.
- Sector's Future Uncertain: While the tech sector may still have potential, it appears it will need to share attention with other emerging trends.
Market Sell-off: Wall Street experienced a significant sell-off, erasing over $500 billion in market value, with Palantir Technologies leading the decline despite positive earnings.
AI ETFs Decline: The Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (AIQ) and other AI-focused ETFs saw substantial drops, reflecting a broader unwinding of AI-related investments.
Valuation Concerns: The market correction is attributed to high valuations, with the Shiller CAPE ratio reaching levels not seen since the dot-com bubble, suggesting potential for low returns in the coming years.
Future of AI Investments: While the AI trade is not over, investors are facing the reality of market corrections, indicating a need for caution after a period of rapid gains.
ETF Performance: The Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF is experiencing significant growth in 2025, with a year-to-date increase of 31.2%, outperforming both the MSCI EAFE and S&P 500 indexes.
Geographic Exposure: The ETF has a substantial allocation to Japanese stocks (21.1%) and European stocks (over 50%), benefiting from pro-market policies in Japan and increased defense spending in Europe, which are expected to drive further growth.
Diversification Benefits: With nearly 3,900 stocks and a low expense ratio of 0.03%, the ETF offers investors a diversified portfolio that can enhance U.S.-heavy investment strategies.
Investment Considerations: While the ETF is a strong option, the Motley Fool's Stock Advisor has identified other stocks that may offer higher potential returns, suggesting investors should weigh their options carefully.
International Stock Performance: International stocks, particularly through the Vanguard FTSE Europe ETF and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF, have outperformed U.S. stocks this year, with gains of 29% and 28% respectively, driven by concerns over U.S. federal debt and tariffs.
Expense Ratios: Both Vanguard ETFs have low expense ratios (0.06% for the FTSE Europe ETF and 0.03% for the FTSE Developed Markets ETF), making them attractive options for investors seeking exposure to international markets compared to the average expense ratios of similar funds.
Market Trends: Despite the recent outperformance of international stocks, historical trends show that they have consistently underperformed U.S. stocks over longer periods, with analysts predicting that U.S. equities will continue to outperform in the coming year.
Investment Recommendations: While the Vanguard ETFs may be considered for small positions, a larger allocation in S&P 500 index funds or individual U.S. stocks is recommended, as they are expected to yield better returns over the next three to five years.
ETF Inflows: The Roundhill TSLA Weeklypay ETF experienced the largest increase in inflows, adding 590,000 units, which represents a 34.1% rise in outstanding units.
Tesla Performance: In morning trading, Tesla's stock was up approximately 1%, contributing to the ETF's performance.
ETF Investment Trends: Last week, investors poured $18.3 billion into U.S.-listed ETFs, favoring a barbell strategy that balances investments between growth equities and safer bonds.
Top Performing Funds: The Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) led inflows with $2.5 billion, while fixed-income funds attracted $6.9 billion, indicating strong interest in both equity and bond markets.
Market Sentiment: Investors are showing a preference for riskier assets like equities while maintaining some safety through bonds, as defensive trades and commodities see declining interest.
Shift in Strategy: There is a notable shift away from hard assets and inverse products, with leveraged products gaining popularity, suggesting a bullish outlook among traders.










