CHI vs VXUS
Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, CHI or VXUS?
Convertibles against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. CHI led over 1Y, VXUS over 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 | CHI | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.83% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.02% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 624 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +23.22%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +28.51%Best | +22.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.37% | +19.44%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.16% | +8.82%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.5% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,860 | $15,260Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 26, 2002 | 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).
CHI 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.
CHI vs VXUS Performance
Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund (CHI) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CHI returned +28.51% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, CHI is up 23.22% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Over three years, CHI compounded at +15.37% per year against +19.44% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +5.16% and +8.82% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.76% annualized vs +3.10%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CHI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% 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 -59.5% for CHI 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CHI charges 1.83% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $183 vs $5 annually, a gap of $178 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CHI currently yields 4.02% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 383 holdings in CHI and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 85.2% 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, 15 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, CHI 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.
15 positions in common, counted across the 383 positions we hold weights for in CHI and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 624 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CHI | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 1.49% | 0.49% | 1.00% |
| BILLBill.Com Holdings, Inc. Common Stock | 0.59% | 0.00% | 0.59% |
| EFR:CAEnergy Fuels Inc/Canada | 0.58% | 0.01% | 0.57% |
| ENB:CAEnbridge Inc. | 0.06% | 0.26% | 0.20% |
| CLW:AUCharter Hall Long Wale Reit | 0.13% | 0.00% | 0.13% |
| CHP.U:CAChoice Properties Reit | 0.12% | 0.01% | 0.11% |
| UMG:ASUniversal Music Group N.V. Universal Music Group N V | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| CS:CACapstone Copper Corp | 0.08% | 0.01% | 0.07% |
| LNWLight & Wonder Inc | 0.07% | 0.01% | 0.06% |
| BDRBF:CABombardier Inc | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CHI 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, CHI or VXUS?
CHI has an expense ratio of 1.83% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $178 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CHI or VXUS?
Over the past year CHI returned +28.51% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so CHI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), CHI annualized +3.10% vs +4.76% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CHI or VXUS?
CHI has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: CHI -59.5% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both CHI and VXUS?
CHI and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, CHI or VXUS?
CHI yields 4.02% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so CHI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than CHI?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. CHI led over 1Y, VXUS over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.