BFRZ vs VXUS
Innovator Equity Managed 100 Buffer ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, BFRZ or VXUS?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
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 | BFRZ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $145M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.27% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 370 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +0.15% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.66% | +22.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.2%Best | 12.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.1%Best | -11.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $10,741 | $13,516Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 13, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 13, 2025 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.3 years).
BFRZ 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
BFRZ vs VXUS Performance
Innovator Equity Managed 100 Buffer ETF (BFRZ) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BFRZ returned +2.66% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, BFRZ is up 0.15% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.8% compared with 4.2% for BFRZ. 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 -3.1% for BFRZ and -11.3% 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 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BFRZ charges 0.89% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $5 annually, a gap of $84 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BFRZ currently yields 0.27% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of BFRZ'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.
BFRZ and VXUS share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, BFRZ as of Sep 1, 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 180 positions we hold weights for in BFRZ and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 370 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BFRZ 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, BFRZ or VXUS?
BFRZ has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $84 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BFRZ or VXUS?
Over the past year BFRZ returned +2.66% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BFRZ annualized +5.65% vs +26.08% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BFRZ or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 4.2% for BFRZ. Worst drawdown: BFRZ -3.1% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both BFRZ and VXUS?
BFRZ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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 BFRZ and VXUS?
At least 1.0% of BFRZ's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 180 positions we hold weights for in BFRZ and 8,091 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, BFRZ or VXUS?
BFRZ yields 0.27% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than BFRZ?
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.