DODGX vs VXUS
Dodge & Cox Stock Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, DODGX or VXUS?
Large Cap Value 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 | DODGX | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.51% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $79.3B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.60% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 91 | 8,747 |
| YTD Price Return | +7.01% | +12.73%Best |
| 1Y Price Return | -93.57% | +18.99%Best |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | -57.59% | +15.83%Best |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | -40.60% | +5.47%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 45.0% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -94.5% | -31.7%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $739 | $13,051Best |
| Fund Family | Dodge & Cox Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 4, 1965 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for DODGX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. DODGX yields 8.60% and VXUS 2.51% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 13, 2021 to Sep 9, 2026 (5 years).
DODGX 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 5 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
DODGX vs VXUS Performance
Dodge & Cox Stock Fund (DODGX) is a mutual fund from Dodge & Cox Funds and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DODGX returned -93.57% while VXUS returned +18.99%. Year to date, DODGX is up 7.01% versus a gain of 12.73% for VXUS.
Over three years, DODGX compounded at -57.59% per year against +15.83% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -40.60% and +5.47% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DODGX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 45.0% compared with 15.3% 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 -94.5% for DODGX and -31.7% 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 0.24. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DODGX charges 0.51% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $51 vs $5 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DODGX currently yields 8.60% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Structure and taxes
DODGX is a mutual fund and VXUS is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
At least 4.6% of DODGX's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
DODGX and VXUS share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, DODGX 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 86 positions we hold weights for in DODGX and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 91 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DODGX 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, DODGX or VXUS?
DODGX has an expense ratio of 0.51% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DODGX or VXUS?
Over the past year DODGX returned -93.57% vs +18.99% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DODGX or VXUS?
DODGX has been the more volatile fund at 45.0% annualized versus 15.3% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: DODGX -94.5% vs VXUS -31.7%.
Should I hold both DODGX and VXUS?
DODGX and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.24, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between DODGX and VXUS?
At least 4.6% of DODGX's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 86 positions we hold weights for in DODGX and 8,091 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, DODGX or VXUS?
DODGX yields 8.60% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so DODGX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold DODGX or VXUS in a taxable account?
VXUS is an ETF and DODGX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VXUS better than DODGX?
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.