Skip to main content

VWCE vs VWRL: same fund, two dividend policies

VWCE and VWRL are two share classes of the same Vanguard fund on the FTSE All-World: same portfolio, same index and same TER. The only difference is what happens to dividends.

Data side by side

Data side by sideVWCEVWRL
ISINIE00BK5BQT80IE00B3RBWM25
IssuerVanguardVanguard
IndexFTSE All-WorldFTSE All-World
DividendsAccumulating (reinvests)Distributing (pays out)
Ongoing charges (TER)0.14%0.14%
ReplicationPhysical, samplingPhysical, sampling
Number of holdings3,7593,759
DomicileIrelandIreland
Launch date23 July 201922 May 2012
Fund base currencyUSDUSD
Listing used on this pageVWCE.DE (EUR)VWRL.AS (EUR)

Market data compared

Market data comparedVWCEVWRL
1-year return18.4%18.4%
2-year return31.4%31.4%
Annualised volatility14.2%14.0%
Maximum drawdown (2 years)-21.1%-21.0%
  • Correlation of daily returns VWCE–VWRL: 1.00

Daily closes from Yahoo Finance in euros (VWCE.DE, VWRL.AS), data as of 23 October 2026. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Two-year performance (base 100, in euros)

VWRL pays dividends every quarter and VWCE reinvests them. That is why, comparing price alone, VWCE seems to perform better: VWRL hands part of its return out as dividends. Adding back the dividends received, total return is practically identical. Distributed dividends are usually taxed every year, while an accumulating class defers tax until you sell in many countries.

Frequently asked questions

Why does VWCE's chart rise more than VWRL's?

Because the chart shows price. VWRL pays dividends out of the fund and its price drops at each payment; total return including dividends is almost identical.

Which suits an income need?

VWRL pays quarterly income. With VWCE you would have to sell units to raise cash.

Can I switch from VWRL to VWCE without tax?

Usually not: switching between ETFs means selling, which realises any gain.