CDX vs VXUS

CDX vs VXUS

Which is better, CDX or VXUS?

High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VXUSHigher Returns: VXUS

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

MetricCDXVXUS
Expense Ratio0.25%0.05%Best
AUM$360M$158.1B
Dividend Yield8.32%2.59%
Holdings2298,747
YTD Return-2.51%+16.15%Best
1Y Return-2.87%+27.58%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+6.96%+20.48%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-+9.09%
Volatility (annualized)7.4%Best15.3%
Max Drawdown-13.2%Best-26.3%
$10,000 over 4.6 years$11,898$16,289Best
Fund FamilySimplify Exchange Traded FundsVanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleHigh Yield BondLarge Cap Blend
InceptionFeb 14, 2022Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 15, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (4.6 years).

CDX 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 4.6 years both funds cover.

CDX vs VXUS Performance

Simplify High Yield ETF (CDX) is an ETF from Simplify Exchange Traded Funds and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CDX returned -2.87% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, CDX is down 2.51% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.

Over three years, CDX compounded at +6.96% per year against +20.48% 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 15.3% compared with 7.4% for CDX. 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 -13.2% for CDX and -26.3% 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

CDX charges 0.25% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $5 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CDX currently yields 8.32% against 2.59% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 210 holdings in CDX and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 98.9% and 87.7% of the two funds. That is not enough of VXUS to divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 4 positions appear in both.

4 positions in common, counted across the 210 positions we hold weights for in CDX and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 229 and 8,747.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in CDXWeight in VXUSDifference
196170:KRAlteogen Inc-0.17%0.02%0.19%
SMGScotts Miracle-Gro Company-0.18%0.00%0.18%
BILLBill.Com Holdings, Inc. Common Stock-0.29%0.00%0.29%
CCCSCcc Intelligent Solutions Hold-0.30%0.01%0.31%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of CDX and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

CDXVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, CDX or VXUS?

CDX has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, CDX or VXUS?

Over the past year CDX returned -2.87% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, CDX or VXUS?

VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 7.4% for CDX. Worst drawdown: CDX -13.2% vs VXUS -26.3%.

Should I hold both CDX and VXUS?

CDX and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, 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, CDX or VXUS?

CDX yields 8.32% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so CDX currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than CDX?

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.