The Weeknd & Ed Sheeran Help A Needy Vet ... But Who's Got Deeper Pockets?

The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran don't just spare change for homeless vets in the street ... they drop bills, as one lucky guy found out.

The singers happened to leave Leo DiCaprio's birthday party Wednesday night in NYC right after each other, and both were approached by a guy who said he's an ex-soldier just looking for a warm meal.

The fact it was Veteran's Day probably helped his cause ... plus, it's been a really good year for Ed and Weeknd. But ultimately, we think it was the guy's hustle that scored him some cash.