AOR vs VXUS
iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, AOR or VXUS?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AOR led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92.
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 | AOR | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $3.7B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.54% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 9 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +7.26% | +13.64%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.87% | +20.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.90% | +19.58%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.71% | +9.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.2%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -22.9%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,836 | $15,485Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 4, 2008 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 17, 2026 (15.6 years).
AOR 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
AOR vs VXUS Performance
iShares Core 60/40 Balanced Allocation ETF (AOR) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AOR returned +10.87% while VXUS returned +20.82%. Year to date, AOR is up 7.26% versus a gain of 13.64% for VXUS.
Over three years, AOR compounded at +13.90% per year against +19.58% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +6.71% and +9.14% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, AOR has the edge at +6.01% annualized vs +4.77%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 9.2% for AOR. 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 -22.9% for AOR 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AOR charges 0.15% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $5 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AOR currently yields 2.54% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 8 holdings in AOR and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 99.9% and 88.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 8 positions we hold weights for in AOR and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 9 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AOR 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, AOR or VXUS?
AOR has an expense ratio of 0.15% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AOR or VXUS?
Over the past year AOR returned +10.87% vs +20.82% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), AOR annualized +6.01% vs +4.77% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AOR or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 9.2% for AOR. Worst drawdown: AOR -22.9% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both AOR and VXUS?
AOR and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AOR or VXUS?
AOR yields 2.54% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so AOR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than AOR?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AOR led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.