EEMX vs VXUS
State Street SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, EEMX or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EEMX led over 1Y and 3Y, VXUS over 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 | EEMX | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.30% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $187M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.86% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 1,070 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +24.20%Best | +16.15% |
| 1Y Return | +42.11%Best | +27.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.36%Best | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.54% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.9%Tie | -39.9%Tie |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,064 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 24, 2016 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 25, 2016 to Sep 4, 2026 (9.9 years).
EEMX 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 9.9 years both funds cover.
EEMX vs VXUS Performance
State Street SPDR MSCI Emerging Markets Fossil Fuel Reserves Free ETF (EEMX) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EEMX returned +42.11% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, EEMX is up 24.20% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, EEMX compounded at +24.36% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +8.54% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +8.51% annualized vs +8.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EEMX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% 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 -39.9% for EEMX 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EEMX charges 0.30% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $30 vs $5 annually, a gap of $25 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EEMX currently yields 1.86% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,011 holdings in EEMX and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 91.5% and 87.7% 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, 777 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, EEMX 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.
777 positions in common, counted across the 1,011 positions we hold weights for in EEMX and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 1,070 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EEMX | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc | 3.21% | 2.17% | 1.04% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 2.55% | 0.49% | 2.06% |
| 2308:TWDelta Electronics Inc | 0.98% | 0.27% | 0.71% |
| 2454:TWMediaTek Inc ORD TWD10 | 0.77% | 0.44% | 0.33% |
| 2317:TWHon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. | 0.80% | 0.22% | 0.58% |
| PDD:IEPdd Holdings Inc | 0.73% | 0.13% | 0.60% |
| ICICIBANK:MBIcici Bank Ltd | 0.68% | 0.17% | 0.51% |
| 1120:SAAl Rajhi Bank | 0.56% | 0.11% | 0.45% |
| ANGJ:ZAAnglogold Ashanti Plc | 0.47% | 0.08% | 0.39% |
| 402340:KRSk Square Co., Ltd. | 0.31% | 0.22% | 0.09% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EEMX 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, EEMX or VXUS?
EEMX has an expense ratio of 0.30% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $25 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EEMX or VXUS?
Over the past year EEMX returned +42.11% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so EEMX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), EEMX annualized +8.12% vs +8.51% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EEMX or VXUS?
EEMX has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: EEMX -39.9% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both EEMX and VXUS?
EEMX and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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, EEMX or VXUS?
EEMX yields 1.86% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than EEMX?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EEMX led over 1Y and 3Y, VXUS over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.