AIS vs VXUS

AIS vs VXUS

Which is better, AIS or VXUS?

AIS has been ahead.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AIS led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VXUSHigher Returns: AIS

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

MetricAISVXUS
Expense Ratio0.75%0.05%Best
AUM$949M$158.1B
Dividend Yield0.00%2.59%
Holdings688,747
YTD Return+78.28%Best+16.15%
1Y Return+131.59%Best+27.58%
3Y Return (annualized)-+20.48%
5Y Return (annualized)-+9.09%
Volatility (annualized)49.1%11.2%Best
Max Drawdown-34.4%-13.6%Best
$10,000 over 1.8 years$28,835Best$15,224
Fund FamilyVistaSharesVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionOct 1, 2024Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2024 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.8 years).

AIS 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 1.8 years both funds cover.

AIS vs VXUS Performance

VistaShares Artificial Intelligence Supercycle ETF (AIS) is an ETF from VistaShares and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AIS returned +131.59% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, AIS is up 78.28% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

AIS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 49.1% compared with 11.2% 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 -34.4% for AIS 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

AIS charges 0.75% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $5 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIS currently yields 0.00% against 2.59% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

AIS already in VXUS28.1%

At least 28.1% of AIS's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.

Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

AIS and VXUS share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, AIS as of Aug 19, 2026 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

21 positions in common, counted across the 64 positions we hold weights for in AIS and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 68 and 8,747.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in AISWeight in VXUSDifference
000660:KRSk Hynix Inc7.30%2.17%5.13%
ASML:ASAsml Holding Nv2.03%1.70%0.33%
601138:SHFoxconn Industrial Internet Co2.83%0.01%2.82%
3037:TWUnimicron Technology Corp1.80%0.10%1.70%
2357:TWAsustek Computer Inc1.56%0.03%1.53%
2408:TWNanya Technology Corp1.45%0.04%1.41%
TSEM:ILTower Semicondctr Ltd1.42%0.06%1.36%
6223:TWMpi Corp1.37%0.04%1.33%
688008:SHMontage Technology Co Ltd-A1.14%0.01%1.13%
NOKIA:FINokia Oyj0.89%0.15%0.74%

28.1% of AIS is already inside VXUS.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

AISVXUS

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, AIS or VXUS?

AIS has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, AIS or VXUS?

Over the past year AIS returned +131.59% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so AIS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AIS annualized +80.10% vs +26.30% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, AIS or VXUS?

AIS has been the more volatile fund at 49.1% annualized versus 11.2% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: AIS -34.4% vs VXUS -13.6%.

Should I hold both AIS and VXUS?

AIS and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.

What is the holdings overlap between AIS and VXUS?

At least 28.1% of AIS's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 21 positions in common, counted across the 64 positions we hold weights for in AIS and 8,094 in VXUS.

Which pays a higher dividend, AIS or VXUS?

AIS yields 0.00% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than AIS?

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AIS 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.