What if you invested monthly in a Europe ETF (VGK) for 15 years?
See what a 15-year monthly plan into VGK—large- and mid-cap stocks across developed Europe like the UK, France, Germany, and Switzerland—would have looked like using real price data, and how it compares with the U.S. over the long run.
Investment conditions
Asset · Europe ETF (VGK)
Method · Recurring monthly investment
Period · 2011-07-01 ~ 2026-07-01
Amount · $222 / month
As of · 2026-07-01
Key metrics
These results do not reflect taxes. Based on historical data.
Risk & recovery
As important as returns. This service does not hide maximum drawdown or loss periods.
Maximum drawdown (MDD)
-36.4%
Largest drop from peak
Longest loss period
6months
Months in loss: 10
Recovery period
8months
Growth over time
Invested principal (dashed) and portfolio value (solid). Values below match the calculation.
Total invested $40,222 → Final value $83,128 (+106.7%), Maximum drawdown (MDD) -36.4%
Why this period and asset
VGK tracks the FTSE Developed Europe index, investing in large- and mid-cap stocks in developed European countries such as the UK, France, Germany, and Switzerland. Europe was in a low-growth stretch over 2011–2026. The 2011–2012 southern-European debt crisis and fears of a eurozone breakup shook equities, followed by years of negative rates and weak growth. The 2016 Brexit vote, the 2020 pandemic, and the 2022 energy crisis from the Russia–Ukraine war were especially heavy burdens for Europe. As a result, Europe lagged the U.S.—led by large-cap tech—over the period.
Interpreting the result
This scenario shows the result of narrowing the region to Europe. On the results screen, be sure to check the maximum drawdown, the underwater period, and the recovery time. Europe tends to pay higher dividends, but when low growth and political events pile up, it can underperform for long or recover slowly. Monthly investing buys more units during declines, yet it does not remove the concentration risk of a single region or currency (euro, pound) risk.
Caveats & limits
Concentrating in a single region (Europe) leaves you heavily exposed to that region's economy and political events. As a foreign asset, the dollar, euro, and pound affect won-based returns on multiple layers, and the ETF's expense ratio, trading costs, and taxes erode performance. Past behavior does not guarantee future results, and this page does not recommend buying any specific asset.
Data sources & limits
- Price data source: Yahoo Finance / FinanceDataReader
- Collected on: 2026-07-23
- Effective trading date: 2026-07-01
- Price basis: 調整後終値(配当・株式分割を反映)
- Trading fees and taxes are not reflected — figures are pre-tax.
- Based on historical data; does not guarantee future returns.
Frequently asked questions
European stocks pay high dividends—did that mean strong returns?
European large caps tend to pay generous dividends, but over this period low growth, the debt crisis, and the energy crisis kept price gains well below the U.S. High dividends do not always mean strong total returns.
Do events like Brexit or war affect monthly investing?
Yes. Political and geopolitical events can trigger large declines that push your balance below what you invested. It is important to check the underwater period and recovery time on the results screen.
With several currencies, how do exchange rates work here?
VGK trades in dollars but internally holds euros, pounds, Swiss francs, and more. Those currencies, the dollar, and finally the won all layer together, so consider won-based returns alongside the raw price move.
Related scenarios
📋 結果は過去のデータに基づくものです。過去のリターンは将来のリターンを保証しません。
📋 本サービスは投資アドバイスではなく、投資を理解するための教育目的で提供されています。