AIBU vs VXUS
Direxion Daily AI and Big Data Bull 2X ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, AIBU or VXUS?
Leverage Strategy against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AIBU led over 1Y and the full window.
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 | AIBU | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $164.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.65% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 76 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +45.91%Best | +11.16% |
| 1Y Return | +34.43%Best | +17.13% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.18% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 55.2% | 11.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.2% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.4 years | $29,118Best | $14,621 |
| Fund Family | Direxion Shares ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Leverage Strategy | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 15, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 15, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026 (2.4 years).
AIBU 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 2.4 years both funds cover.
AIBU vs VXUS Performance
Direxion Daily AI and Big Data Bull 2X ETF (AIBU) is an ETF from Direxion Shares ETF Trust and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AIBU returned +34.43% while VXUS returned +17.13%. Year to date, AIBU is up 45.91% versus a gain of 11.16% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AIBU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 55.2% compared with 11.4% 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 -51.2% for AIBU and -13.6% 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 0.37. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AIBU charges 0.96% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $5 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIBU currently yields 1.65% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of AIBU's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 89.3% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, AIBU as of Sep 15, 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in AIBU and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 76 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AIBU | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PONYPony Ai Inc | 0.16% | 0.00% | 0.16% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AIBU 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, AIBU or VXUS?
AIBU has an expense ratio of 0.96% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AIBU or VXUS?
Over the past year AIBU returned +34.43% vs +17.13% for VXUS, so AIBU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AIBU annualized +56.10% vs +17.15% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AIBU or VXUS?
AIBU has been the more volatile fund at 55.2% annualized versus 11.4% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: AIBU -51.2% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both AIBU and VXUS?
AIBU and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.37, 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, AIBU or VXUS?
AIBU yields 1.65% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than AIBU?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AIBU led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.