CGO vs VXUS
Calamos Global Total Return Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, CGO or VXUS?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. CGO led over 3Y, VXUS over 1Y, 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 | CGO | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.30% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $204M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.70% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 714 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +19.93%Best | +14.83% |
| 1Y Return | +19.40% | +24.27%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.44%Best | +19.98% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.03% | +9.07%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.7% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,184 | $15,436Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 27, 2005 | 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 9, 2026 (15.6 years).
CGO 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.
CGO vs VXUS Performance
Calamos Global Total Return Fund (CGO) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CGO returned +19.40% while VXUS returned +24.27%. Year to date, CGO is up 19.93% versus a gain of 14.83% for VXUS.
Over three years, CGO compounded at +22.44% per year against +19.98% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +4.03% and +9.07% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.85% annualized vs +2.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CGO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% 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 -59.7% for CGO 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CGO charges 2.30% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $230 vs $5 annually, a gap of $225 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CGO currently yields 5.70% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 493 holdings in CGO and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 88.7% 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, 144 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, CGO as of Jan 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.
144 positions in common, counted across the 493 positions we hold weights for in CGO and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 714 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CGO | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 0.99% | 2.17% | 1.18% |
| ASML:ASAsml Holding Nv | 1.30% | 1.70% | 0.40% |
| UCG:MIUnicredit Spa | 1.29% | 0.30% | 0.99% |
| RR:LNRolls-Royce Holdings PLC Ord Gbp0.20 | 1.03% | 0.36% | 0.67% |
| AZN:LNAstraZeneca PLC | 0.70% | 0.62% | 0.08% |
| SAN:MABanco Santander S.a. | 0.69% | 0.45% | 0.24% |
| 8035:JPTokyo Electron Ltd | 0.60% | 0.47% | 0.13% |
| 0MG2:SGHeidelberg Materials AG | 0.97% | 0.05% | 0.92% |
| STEL:SISingapore Telecommunications Ltd | 0.86% | 0.06% | 0.80% |
| 6501:JPHitachi Ltd | 0.61% | 0.27% | 0.34% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CGO 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, CGO or VXUS?
CGO has an expense ratio of 2.30% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $225 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CGO or VXUS?
Over the past year CGO returned +19.40% vs +24.27% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), CGO annualized +2.50% vs +4.85% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CGO or VXUS?
CGO has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: CGO -59.7% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both CGO and VXUS?
CGO and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, CGO or VXUS?
CGO yields 5.70% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so CGO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than CGO?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. CGO led over 3Y, VXUS over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.