Is Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIGI) a Strong ETF Right Now?

Core Insights - The Vanguard International Dividend Appreciation ETF (VIGI) is designed to provide broad exposure to the Foreign Large Blend ETF category and was launched on March 3, 2016 [1] - VIGI is managed by Vanguard and has accumulated over $8.4 billion in assets, making it one of the larger ETFs in its category [5] - The ETF seeks to match the performance of the NASDAQ International Dividend Achievers Select Index [5] Investment Strategy - Smart beta ETFs, like VIGI, track non-cap weighted strategies and aim to select stocks based on specific fundamental characteristics to enhance risk-return performance [3] - The S&P Global Ex-U.S. Dividend Growers Index focuses on high-quality companies in developed and emerging markets that are committed to growing dividends over time [6] Cost and Performance - VIGI has an annual operating expense ratio of 0.10%, making it one of the least expensive options in the ETF space [7] - The ETF's 12-month trailing dividend yield is 1.84% [7] - As of August 14, 2025, VIGI has gained approximately 12.51% year-to-date and 8.08% over the past year, with a trading range between $75.29 and $91.16 in the last 52 weeks [9] Holdings and Diversification - The ETF holds about 341 different stocks, effectively diversifying company-specific risk [9] - Major holdings include SAP Se (4.02% of total assets), Novartis Ag, and Royal Bank Of Canada [8] Alternatives - Other ETFs in the same space include Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) and Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF (VEA), which have larger asset bases and lower expense ratios [11]