CHW vs VXUS
Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, CHW or VXUS?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. CHW 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 | CHW | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.27% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $868M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.68% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 775 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +15.72%Best | +12.82% |
| 1Y Return | +18.54% | +19.86%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.51%Best | +19.33% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.90% | +9.46%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.7% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -58.2% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,319 | $15,714Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 27, 2007 | 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 18, 2026 (15.6 years).
CHW 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.
CHW vs VXUS Performance
Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund (CHW) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CHW returned +18.54% while VXUS returned +19.86%. Year to date, CHW is up 15.72% versus a gain of 12.82% for VXUS.
Over three years, CHW compounded at +22.51% per year against +19.33% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +5.90% and +9.46% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.72% annualized vs +3.10%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CHW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.7% 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 -58.2% for CHW 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CHW charges 2.27% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $227 vs $5 annually, a gap of $222 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CHW currently yields 2.68% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 499 holdings in CHW and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 88.7% and 88.8% 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, 138 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, CHW as of Jan 31, 2026 and VXUS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
138 positions in common, counted across the 499 positions we hold weights for in CHW and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 775 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CHW | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML:ASAsml Holding Nv | 1.29% | 1.42% | 0.13% |
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 0.89% | 1.41% | 0.52% |
| IBE:MAIberdrola S.A. | 1.33% | 0.37% | 0.96% |
| UCG:MIUnicredit Spa | 1.30% | 0.32% | 0.98% |
| RR:LNRolls-Royce Holdings PLC Ord Gbp0.20 | 1.02% | 0.38% | 0.64% |
| AZN:LNAstraZeneca PLC | 0.70% | 0.57% | 0.13% |
| SHELShell Plc | 0.40% | 0.57% | 0.17% |
| 6501:JPHitachi Ltd | 0.61% | 0.32% | 0.29% |
| STEL:SISingapore Telecommunications Ltd | 0.86% | 0.06% | 0.80% |
| 8035:JPTokyo Electron Ltd | 0.59% | 0.33% | 0.26% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CHW 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, CHW or VXUS?
CHW has an expense ratio of 2.27% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $222 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CHW or VXUS?
Over the past year CHW returned +18.54% vs +19.86% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), CHW annualized +3.10% vs +4.72% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CHW or VXUS?
CHW has been the more volatile fund at 20.7% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: CHW -58.2% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both CHW and VXUS?
CHW and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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, CHW or VXUS?
CHW yields 2.68% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so CHW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than CHW?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. CHW 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.