AAXJ vs VTI
iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AAXJ or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AAXJ led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.8%.
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 | AAXJ | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.72% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4.0B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.32% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 959 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +23.53%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +29.30%Best | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.10%Best | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.26% | +12.83%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 16.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.4% | -48.5%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,571 | $18,286Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 42.8% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 13, 2008 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 15, 2008 to Oct 2, 2026 (18.1 years).
AAXJ vs VTI 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 covers the 18.1 years both funds cover.
AAXJ vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI All Country Asia ex Japan ETF (AAXJ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AAXJ returned +29.30% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, AAXJ is up 23.53% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, AAXJ compounded at +26.10% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +9.26% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +10.63% annualized vs +5.41%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AAXJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 16.1% for VTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -49.4% for AAXJ and -48.5% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAXJ charges 0.72% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $72 vs $3 annually, a gap of $69 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAXJ currently yields 1.32% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of AAXJ's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 933 positions we hold weights for in AAXJ and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 959 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,149 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AAXJ (97.4% of the fund), and 8 for AAXJ that do not appear in VTI (9.3%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AAXJ | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HALHalliburton Co. | 0.08% | 0.03% | 0.05% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AAXJ and VTI 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, AAXJ or VTI?
AAXJ has an expense ratio of 0.72% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $69 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AAXJ or VTI?
Over the past year AAXJ returned +29.30% vs +15.92% for VTI, so AAXJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), AAXJ annualized +5.41% vs +10.63% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AAXJ or VTI?
AAXJ has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 16.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: AAXJ -49.4% vs VTI -48.5%.
Should I hold both AAXJ and VTI?
AAXJ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAXJ or VTI?
AAXJ yields 1.32% while VTI yields 1.03%, so AAXJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AAXJ?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AAXJ led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 42.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.