BKEM vs VXUS
BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, BKEM or VXUS?
Mid Cap Growth 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 | BKEM | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.11% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $93M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.73% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 1,795 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -59.01% | +14.83%Best |
| 1Y Return | -54.89% | +24.27%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -15.06% | +19.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -13.18% | +9.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 32.1% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -71.3% | -29.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $4,933 | $15,436Best |
| Fund Family | BNY Mellon Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 22, 2020 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 24, 2020 to Sep 9, 2026 (6.4 years).
BKEM 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 6.4 years both funds cover.
BKEM vs VXUS Performance
BNY Mellon Emerging Markets Equity ETF (BKEM) is an ETF from BNY Mellon Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BKEM returned -54.89% while VXUS returned +24.27%. Year to date, BKEM is down 59.01% versus a gain of 14.83% for VXUS.
Over three years, BKEM compounded at -15.06% per year against +19.98% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -13.18% and +9.07% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +14.34% annualized vs -5.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BKEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 32.1% compared with 14.7% 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 -71.3% for BKEM 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 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BKEM charges 0.11% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $11 vs $5 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BKEM currently yields 3.73% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,287 holdings in BKEM and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 92.5% and 87.7% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 961 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, BKEM as of Mar 31, 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.
961 positions in common, counted across the 1,287 positions we hold weights for in BKEM and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 1,795 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BKEM | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2330:AEAdvanced Petrochemicals Co | 12.06% | 4.25% | 7.81% |
| 000660:KRSk Hynix | 2.84% | 2.17% | 0.67% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 2.46% | 0.49% | 1.97% |
| 2454:TWMediatek, Inc. | 0.68% | 0.44% | 0.24% |
| 2308:TWDelta Electronics Inc | 0.78% | 0.27% | 0.51% |
| 2317:TWHon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | 0.65% | 0.22% | 0.43% |
| PDD:IEPdd Holdings Inc | 0.68% | 0.13% | 0.55% |
| ICICIBANK:MBIcici Bank Ltd | 0.62% | 0.17% | 0.45% |
| 1398:HKIcbc Ltd. | 0.54% | 0.15% | 0.39% |
| VALE3:BVVale Sa | 0.53% | 0.12% | 0.41% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BKEM 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, BKEM or VXUS?
BKEM has an expense ratio of 0.11% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BKEM or VXUS?
Over the past year BKEM returned -54.89% vs +24.27% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BKEM annualized -5.06% vs +14.34% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BKEM or VXUS?
BKEM has been the more volatile fund at 32.1% annualized versus 14.7% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: BKEM -71.3% vs VXUS -29.4%.
Should I hold both BKEM and VXUS?
BKEM 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, BKEM or VXUS?
BKEM yields 3.73% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so BKEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than BKEM?
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.