ACV vs VXUS
Virtus Diversified Income & Convertible Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ACV or VXUS?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ACV led over 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 5Y.
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 | ACV | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.55% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $275M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.52% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 308 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +2.41% | +12.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.95% | +19.22%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.33%Best | +19.10% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.65% | +8.63%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.9% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.0% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,798 | $15,127Best |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 26, 2015 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 22, 2015 to Sep 16, 2026 (11.3 years).
ACV 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 covers the 11.3 years both funds cover.
ACV vs VXUS Performance
Virtus Diversified Income & Convertible Fund (ACV) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ACV returned +15.95% while VXUS returned +19.22%. Year to date, ACV is up 2.41% versus a gain of 12.21% for VXUS.
Over three years, ACV compounded at +21.33% per year against +19.10% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +6.65% and +8.63% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, ACV has the edge at +6.61% annualized vs +5.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ACV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.9% compared with 14.9% for VXUS. 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 -54.0% for ACV and -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACV charges 2.55% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $255 vs $5 annually, a gap of $250 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACV currently yields 9.52% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 161 holdings in ACV and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 80.0% and 88.8% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 3 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 154 days apart, ACV as of Feb 27, 2026 and VXUS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
3 positions in common, counted across the 161 positions we hold weights for in ACV and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 308 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ACV 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, ACV or VXUS?
ACV has an expense ratio of 2.55% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $250 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACV or VXUS?
Over the past year ACV returned +15.95% vs +19.22% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), ACV annualized +6.61% vs +5.75% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACV or VXUS?
ACV has been the more volatile fund at 24.9% annualized versus 14.9% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: ACV -54.0% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both ACV and VXUS?
ACV and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, ACV or VXUS?
ACV yields 9.52% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so ACV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ACV?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ACV led over 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.