DHF vs VXUS
BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, DHF or VXUS?
High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 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 | DHF | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.71% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $195M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.87% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 318 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -0.29% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.56% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.33% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.62% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Tie | 15.0%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -64.8% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,837 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | BNY Mellon Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 29, 1998 | 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 4, 2026 (15.6 years).
DHF 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.
DHF vs VXUS Performance
BNY Mellon High Yield Strategies Fund (DHF) is an ETF from BNY Mellon Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DHF returned -1.56% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, DHF is down 0.29% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, DHF compounded at +11.33% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +1.62% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.93% annualized vs -1.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DHF and VXUS have been equally volatile, both at 15.0% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -64.8% for DHF 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DHF charges 1.71% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $171 vs $5 annually, a gap of $166 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DHF currently yields 7.87% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 217 holdings in DHF and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 99.3% and 87.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, DHF as of Mar 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 217 positions we hold weights for in DHF and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 318 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DHF 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, DHF or VXUS?
DHF has an expense ratio of 1.71% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $166 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DHF or VXUS?
Over the past year DHF returned -1.56% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), DHF annualized -1.17% vs +4.93% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DHF or VXUS?
DHF and VXUS have been equally volatile, both at 15.0% annualized. Worst drawdown: DHF -64.8% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both DHF and VXUS?
DHF and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, DHF or VXUS?
DHF yields 7.87% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so DHF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than DHF?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.