ARB vs VXUS
AltShares Merger Arbitrage ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ARB or VXUS?
Market Neutral Strategy against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | ARB | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.76% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $102M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.42% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 95 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +2.83% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.52% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +5.11% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.10% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.0%Best | 14.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.6%Best | -29.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,225 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | AltShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Market Neutral Strategy | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 7, 2020 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 7, 2020 to Sep 4, 2026 (6.3 years).
ARB 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 6.3 years both funds cover.
ARB vs VXUS Performance
AltShares Merger Arbitrage ETF (ARB) is an ETF from AltShares and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ARB returned +3.52% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, ARB is up 2.83% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, ARB compounded at +5.11% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +4.10% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +14.38% annualized vs +4.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.7% compared with 3.0% for ARB. 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 -5.6% for ARB and -29.4% 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 0.14. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARB charges 0.76% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $76 vs $5 annually, a gap of $71 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARB currently yields 0.42% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 18.5% of ARB'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.
ARB and VXUS share little of their money.
17 positions in common, counted across the 84 positions we hold weights for in ARB and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 95 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ARB | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEZ:LNBeazley Plc | 2.22% | 0.02% | 2.20% |
| DHER:FFDelivery Hero Se | 2.15% | 0.02% | 2.13% |
| SDR:LNSchroders Plc | 1.70% | 0.01% | 1.69% |
| IVG:MIIveco Group NV | 1.57% | 0.01% | 1.56% |
| AAUC:CAAllied Gold Corp Common Stock | 1.57% | 0.00% | 1.57% |
| ALLFG:LNAllfunds Group Plc | 1.25% | 0.01% | 1.24% |
| SNR:LNSenior Plc | 1.21% | 0.00% | 1.21% |
| JTC:LNJtc Plc | 1.18% | 0.01% | 1.17% |
| ROR:LNRotork Plc | 1.16% | 0.01% | 1.15% |
| BLX:CABoralex Inc., Class ''A'' | 1.15% | 0.01% | 1.14% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARB 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, ARB or VXUS?
ARB has an expense ratio of 0.76% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $71 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARB or VXUS?
Over the past year ARB returned +3.52% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), ARB annualized +4.13% vs +14.38% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARB or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.7% annualized versus 3.0% for ARB. Worst drawdown: ARB -5.6% vs VXUS -29.4%.
Should I hold both ARB and VXUS?
ARB and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.14, 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 ARB and VXUS?
At least 18.5% of ARB's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 17 positions in common, counted across the 84 positions we hold weights for in ARB and 8,094 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, ARB or VXUS?
ARB yields 0.42% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ARB?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.