ECAT vs VXUS
BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ECAT or VXUS?
Equity-oriented Balanced 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 | ECAT | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.43% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 23.26% | 2.38% |
| Holdings | 1,290 | 9,293 |
| YTD Return | +0.46% | +8.79%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.55% | +12.87%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.54% | +18.94%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.99% | +8.11%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.8% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.2% | -28.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,019 | $14,768Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 28, 2021 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 28, 2021 to Nov 10, 2026 (5.1 years).
ECAT 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 5.1 years both funds cover.
ECAT vs VXUS Performance
BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust (ECAT) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ECAT returned -0.55% while VXUS returned +12.87%. Year to date, ECAT is up 0.46% versus a gain of 8.79% for VXUS.
Over three years, ECAT compounded at +15.54% per year against +18.94% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +6.99% and +8.11% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ECAT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.8% 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 -32.2% for ECAT and -28.9% 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ECAT charges 1.43% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $143 vs $5 annually, a gap of $138 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ECAT currently yields 23.26% against 2.38% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 460 holdings in ECAT and 8,463 in VXUS, totalling 78.2% and 89.2% 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, 25 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 92 days apart, ECAT as of Jun 30, 2026 and VXUS as of Sep 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
25 positions in common, counted across the 460 positions we hold weights for in ECAT and 8,463 in VXUS, against full books of 1,290 and 9,293.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ECAT | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2330:TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 0.15% | 4.24% | 4.09% |
| ASML:ASASML HOLDING NV | 2.81% | 1.54% | 1.27% |
| 005930:KRSamsung Electronics (Equity) | 0.87% | 2.02% | 1.15% |
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 0.32% | 1.65% | 1.33% |
| AZN:LNAstraZeneca PLC | 0.47% | 0.54% | 0.07% |
| NG:LNNational Grid Plc | 0.81% | 0.17% | 0.64% |
| ROP:SMRoche Holding Ag Common Stock Chf.001 | 0.28% | 0.65% | 0.37% |
| 8306:JPMitsubishi Ufj Financial Group, Inc. | 0.17% | 0.56% | 0.39% |
| CCO:CACameco Corporation Com Npv | 0.63% | 0.08% | 0.55% |
| INGA:ASIng Groep Nv | 0.45% | 0.23% | 0.22% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ECAT 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, ECAT or VXUS?
ECAT has an expense ratio of 1.43% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $138 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ECAT or VXUS?
Over the past year ECAT returned -0.55% vs +12.87% 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, ECAT or VXUS?
ECAT has been the more volatile fund at 17.8% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: ECAT -32.2% vs VXUS -28.9%.
Should I hold both ECAT and VXUS?
ECAT and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, ECAT or VXUS?
ECAT yields 23.26% while VXUS yields 2.38%, so ECAT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ECAT?
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.