CSQ vs VXUS
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, CSQ or VXUS?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. CSQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y.
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 | CSQ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.03% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $5.2B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.35% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 816 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +12.71% | +12.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.98% | +19.86%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.28%Best | +19.33% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.94%Best | +9.46% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -48.6% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,805Best | $15,714 |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2004 | 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).
CSQ 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.
CSQ vs VXUS Performance
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CSQ returned +14.98% while VXUS returned +19.86%. Year to date, CSQ is up 12.71% versus a gain of 12.82% for VXUS.
Over three years, CSQ compounded at +20.28% per year against +19.33% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +10.94% and +9.46% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, CSQ has the edge at +8.17% annualized vs +4.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CSQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% 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 -48.6% for CSQ 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CSQ charges 2.03% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $203 vs $5 annually, a gap of $198 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CSQ currently yields 2.35% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 452 holdings in CSQ and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 93.6% 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, 17 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, CSQ 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.
17 positions in common, counted across the 452 positions we hold weights for in CSQ and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 816 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CSQ | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 0.26% | 0.62% | 0.36% |
| EFR:CAEnergy Fuels Inc | 0.35% | 0.01% | 0.34% |
| NOKIA:FINokia Oyj | 0.21% | 0.10% | 0.11% |
| ENB:CAEnbridge Inc. | 0.02% | 0.27% | 0.25% |
| LNWLight & Wonder Inc | 0.06% | 0.01% | 0.05% |
| BDRBF:CABombardier Inc | 0.01% | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| HBANHuntington Bancshares Inc./Oh | 0.01% | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| CHPUN:CAChoice Properties Real Estate Inve | 0.04% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| CLWClearwater Paper Corp | 0.04% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| CS:CACapstone Copper Corp | 0.03% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CSQ 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, CSQ or VXUS?
CSQ has an expense ratio of 2.03% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $198 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CSQ or VXUS?
Over the past year CSQ returned +14.98% vs +19.86% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), CSQ annualized +8.17% vs +4.72% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CSQ or VXUS?
CSQ has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: CSQ -48.6% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both CSQ and VXUS?
CSQ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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, CSQ or VXUS?
CSQ yields 2.35% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than CSQ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. CSQ led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.