<div id="readability-page-1"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>There’s never a bad time to invest in the United States’ economic titans.</li><li>There are also times when better opportunities lie elsewhere.</li><li>Analysts believe AI is creating asymmetrical growth opportunities all over.</li><li>10 stocks we like better than Vanguard International Equity Index Funds - Vanguard Total World Stock ETF ›</li></ul>Do you view the market's recent weakness as a buying opportunity? Maybe a chance to step into a new position in a broad-based index fund at a discounted price? If so, good idea! Even if we haven't hit the ultimate bottom yet, stocks are certainly on sale here.But which fund? The SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust (NYSEMKT: SPY) and the essentially identical Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT: VOO) are always popular choices. If you've got the option of buying anything though, maybe something with a bit more international exposure like the Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (NYSEMKT: VT) is a better option right now.Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an &#34;Indispensable Monopoly&#34; providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg1OTU0Mi9wZXJzb24tYXQtYm9hcmQtdGhhdC1zYXlzLWV0Zi5qcGcmdz03MDA?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="466" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg1OTU0Mi9wZXJzb24tYXQtYm9hcmQtdGhhdC1zYXlzLWV0Zi5qcGcmdz03MDA"/>Image source: Getty Images. <h2>Exactly what it sounds like</h2>Just as the name suggests, the Vanguard Total World Stock ETF owns stocks of companies located all over the planet. Built to mirror the FTSE Global All Cap Index, this exchange-traded fund (ETF) holds stakes in over 10,000 equities of all shapes and sizes, many of which you've likely never even heard of.Roughly two-thirds of this ETF's value consists of North American companies (most of which are U.S. listings), while European stocks account for 15% of its holdings. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific names and emerging markets each make up about 10% of VT's portfolio. Said another way, about one-third of this fund's value consists of stocks that aren't in the S&amp;P 500.Great. But given that the U.S. economy and market have been outperforming most others of late, why fix what isn't broken? Because nothing is ever permanent; change happens. There's an argument to be made, in fact, that we're on a precipice of a major shift in the planet's leading names.And Vanguard's analysts are making this very argument. In its recently published 2026 Economic and Market Outlook, Vanguard's Global Chief Economist and Global Head of Investment Strategy Joe Davis comments that &#34;despite the glamor of the tech-heavy U.S. equity market, more compelling investment opportunities are emerging in high-quality fixed income, U.S. value, and ex-U.S. equity -- even for those investors most bullish on AI's prospects.&#34; His bottom line? &#34;Long-term investors will continue to benefit from a portfolio consisting of fixed income and globally diversified equities.&#34;It's not just Vanguard that's more bullish on anything other than the U.S. growth stocks that have been driving the S&amp;P 500 higher, however. Bank of America/Merrill Lynch Chief Global Strategist Michael Hartnett feels the same. Explaining that &#34;AI disruption [is] more labor market and/or corporate revenue negative to services-heavy US GDP &amp; SPX [S&amp;P 500] index than manufacturing/resource-heavy EAFE/EM [Europe/emerging markets] macro &amp; equity indices,&#34; Hartnett expects the U.S. market to lag most other region's markets through the end of the decade.<h2>A strategically sound option at this time</h2>The Vanguard Total World Stock ETF isn't necessarily the only way to plug into this shift in global market leadership. The Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ: VXUS) specifically doesn't hold any U.S. stocks, which are expected to underperform for the foreseeable future. Neither does the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US ETF (NYSEMKT: VEU). These alternatives would both be great plays if you're looking to capitalize on the brewing shift in market leadership, or a smart addition if you already own SPY or VOO.If you currently don't own any broad index funds and just want to take advantage of the recent marketwide pullback, VT is a better overall bet than the SPDR S&amp;P 500 ETF Trust is at this time.<h2>Should you buy stock in Vanguard International Equity Index Funds - Vanguard Total World Stock ETF right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in Vanguard International Equity Index Funds - Vanguard Total World Stock ETF, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Vanguard International Equity Index Funds - Vanguard Total World Stock ETF wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $508,877!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,115,328!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 936% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 189% for the S&amp;P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 18, 2026. Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. James Brumley has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Vanguard International Equity Index Funds-Vanguard Ftse All-World ex-US ETF, Vanguard S&amp;P 500 ETF, and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. </div></div>

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The article compares the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust and the Vanguard Total World Stock ETF, suggesting that the latter may be a better option for long-term investors seeking international exposure. Analysts highlight the potential for growth outside the U.S., particularly in fixed income and global equities, as the U.S. market may lag due to AI disruptions. Vanguard's Chief Economist emphasizes the importance of a diversified portfolio. Alternatives like the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF are also mentioned for those looking to capitalize on changing market dynamics.

- Investors are encouraged to explore opportunities beyond U.S. markets, particularly in international equity and fixed income due to emerging growth prospects.  
- Vanguard and Bank of America analysts highlight a potential market shift, suggesting that U.S. growth stocks may underperform compared to ex-U.S. equities and fixed income.  
- The Vanguard Total World Stock ETF, which provides global exposure, may be a preferable investment, especially for those looking to capitalize on a market pullback.

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SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust vs. Vanguard Total World Stock ETF: Which One Is the Better Buy for Long-Term Investors?