The Vanguard FTSE Developed World UCITS ETF (VDEV) is an Ireland-domiciled equity ETF managed by Vanguard. VDEV represents the fund's USD distributing share class traded in U.S. dollars on the London Stock Exchange.

The fund seeks to track the FTSE Developed Index, a benchmark comprising large- and mid-cap companies across developed markets.

VDEV follows a passive investment strategy and uses physical replication through representative sampling. The fund invests directly in a selection of equities designed to closely reflect the characteristics and performance of its benchmark.

The FTSE Developed Index is part of the FTSE Global Equity Index Series and provides broad exposure to equity markets classified as developed by FTSE Russell. The index excludes emerging markets and weights its constituents based on free float-adjusted market capitalization.

Composition / Exposure Profile

VDEV holds companies across different sectors of developed market economies, including:

• Technology.

• Financials.

• Industrials.

• Health care.

• Consumer discretionary.

• Communication services.

• Consumer staples.

• Energy.

• Materials.

• Utilities.

• Real estate.

Geographic exposure spans developed markets across North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, and countries across continental Europe.

Because the index is weighted by free float-adjusted market capitalization, larger eligible markets and companies tend to represent greater portions of the portfolio. The United States accounts for a significant share of the index due to the size of its equity market within the developed world.

Although the fund provides diversification across countries and sectors, it does not include markets classified as emerging by FTSE Russell. Its performance can be influenced by factors including economic growth, corporate earnings, interest rates, monetary conditions, and currency movements across developed markets.

Structure and Costs

The fund and share class have the U.S. dollar as their base currency. On the London Stock Exchange, the distributing share class trades in USD under VDEV and in GBP under VEVE. The trading currency does not change the portfolio's underlying economic exposure or, by itself, provide currency hedging.

The ETF has ongoing charges of 0.12% per year, uses physical replication through representative sampling, and is domiciled in Ireland. It operates as part of Vanguard Funds plc under the UCITS framework.

VDEV follows a distributing income policy, with payments made quarterly. Dividends received from portfolio companies may therefore be periodically distributed to shareholders rather than fully reinvested within the fund.

History and Evolution of the ETF

The Vanguard FTSE Developed World UCITS ETF USD Distributing was launched in 2014 to provide broad exposure to developed equity markets through a single portfolio. Since its launch, the fund has maintained a passive strategy linked to the FTSE Developed Index, tracking large- and mid-cap companies across different countries and sectors.

Throughout its history, VDEV's performance has reflected movements across developed equity markets, including economic cycles, corporate earnings, changes in monetary policy, and developments affecting the companies and sectors with the largest weights in the index.

Additional Information

Vanguard FTSE Developed World UCITS ETF USD Dist (Ireland) is an exchange-traded fund (ETF), with assets under management totaling $3.44 billion.

Over the past 12 months, Vanguard FTSE Developed World UCITS ETF USD Dist recorded a return of 15.39%, with its price trading between $121.92 and $147.29 during the same period.

The ETF is traded under the ticker VDEV.