AAEQ vs VXUS
Alpha Architect US Equity 2 ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, AAEQ or VXUS?
VXUS costs less.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AAEQ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $506M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.09% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 353 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +12.66% | +14.94%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +21.99% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.89% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.48% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 9, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.
AAEQ vs VXUS growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AAEQ vs VXUS Performance
Alpha Architect US Equity 2 ETF (AAEQ) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, AAEQ is up 12.66% versus a gain of 14.94% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAEQ charges 0.09% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $5 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAEQ currently yields 0.09% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of AAEQ's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 88.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 293 positions we hold weights for in AAEQ and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 353 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AAEQ and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AAEQ or VXUS?
AAEQ has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAEQ or VXUS?
AAEQ yields 0.09% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than AAEQ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.