BTO vs VXUS
John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, BTO or VXUS?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. BTO led over 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 5Y.
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 | BTO | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.96% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $709M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.18% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 184 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +15.96%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +12.15% | +22.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.75%Best | +19.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.15% | +8.82%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.7% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -69.7% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,124 | $15,260Best |
| Fund Family | John Hancock Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 18, 1994 | 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 10, 2026 (15.6 years).
BTO 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.
BTO vs VXUS Performance
John Hancock Financial Opportunities Fund (BTO) is an ETF from John Hancock Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BTO returned +12.15% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, BTO is up 15.96% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Over three years, BTO compounded at +23.75% per year against +19.44% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +7.15% and +8.82% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, BTO has the edge at +8.16% annualized vs +4.76%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BTO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.7% compared with 15.0% 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 -69.7% for BTO 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BTO charges 2.96% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $296 vs $5 annually, a gap of $291 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BTO currently yields 6.18% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 134 holdings in BTO and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 110.9% 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, 3 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, BTO as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 134 positions we hold weights for in BTO and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 184 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BTO 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, BTO or VXUS?
BTO has an expense ratio of 2.96% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $291 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BTO or VXUS?
Over the past year BTO returned +12.15% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), BTO annualized +8.16% vs +4.76% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BTO or VXUS?
BTO has been the more volatile fund at 27.7% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: BTO -69.7% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both BTO and VXUS?
BTO and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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, BTO or VXUS?
BTO yields 6.18% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so BTO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than BTO?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. BTO led over 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.