AQLT vs VXUS
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, AQLT or VXUS?
VXUS has been ahead.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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 | AQLT | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $329M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 521 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +10.62% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.66% | +22.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9% | 11.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.8% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,624 | $14,605Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.7 years).
AQLT 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
AQLT vs VXUS Performance
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF (AQLT) 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 AQLT returned +18.66% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, AQLT is up 10.62% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AQLT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.9% 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 -16.8% for AQLT 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQLT charges 0.20% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $5 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AQLT currently yields 0.98% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 18.0% of AQLT'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.
AQLT and VXUS share little of their money.
208 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 521 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AQLT | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML:ASAsml Holding N.V. | 2.75% | 1.70% | 1.05% |
| AZN:LNAstrazeneca Plc | 0.90% | 0.62% | 0.28% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag Ordinary Shares | 0.87% | 0.65% | 0.22% |
| NESN:SMNestle Sa | 0.67% | 0.59% | 0.08% |
| 8035:JPTokyo Electron Ltd. Com Stk | 0.56% | 0.47% | 0.09% |
| 2454:TWMediatek, Inc. | 0.54% | 0.44% | 0.10% |
| ABBN:SMABB Ltd. - Ordinary Shares | 0.52% | 0.37% | 0.15% |
| BHP:AUBhp Group Ltd Sedol 6144690 | 0.53% | 0.30% | 0.23% |
| 6857:JPAdvantest Corp | 0.48% | 0.33% | 0.15% |
| RR:LNRolls-Royce Holdings PLC | 0.44% | 0.36% | 0.08% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AQLT 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, AQLT or VXUS?
AQLT has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AQLT or VXUS?
Over the past year AQLT returned +18.66% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AQLT annualized +14.69% vs +24.96% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AQLT or VXUS?
AQLT has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 11.4% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: AQLT -16.8% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both AQLT and VXUS?
AQLT and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 AQLT and VXUS?
At least 18.0% of AQLT's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 208 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 8,091 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQLT or VXUS?
AQLT yields 0.98% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than AQLT?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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.