ELFY vs VXUS
ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ELFY or VXUS?
VXUS has been ahead.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y 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 | ELFY | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $195M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.07% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 116 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +9.23% | +13.64%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.57% | +20.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.8% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.9% | -11.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $15,077 | $15,175Best |
| Fund Family | ALPS ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 9, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 10, 2025 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.4 years).
ELFY 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
ELFY vs VXUS Performance
ALPS Electrification Infrastructure ETF (ELFY) is an ETF from ALPS ETF Trust and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ELFY returned +14.57% while VXUS returned +20.82%. Year to date, ELFY is up 9.23% versus a gain of 13.64% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ELFY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.8% compared with 12.6% 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 -14.9% for ELFY and -11.3% 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ELFY charges 0.50% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $5 annually, a gap of $45 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ELFY currently yields 1.07% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 14.7% of ELFY's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 88.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
ELFY and VXUS share little of their money.
16 positions in common, counted across the 114 positions we hold weights for in ELFY and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 116 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ELFY | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENB:CAEnbridge Inc. | 0.84% | 0.27% | 0.57% |
| TECK.B:CATeck Resources Ltd. Class B | 1.00% | 0.06% | 0.94% |
| HBM:CAHudbay Minerals Inc | 1.01% | 0.02% | 0.99% |
| NXE:CANexgen Energy Ltd | 1.00% | 0.01% | 0.99% |
| CCO:CACameco Corporation Com Npv | 0.93% | 0.08% | 0.85% |
| PBAPembina Pipeline Corp Cum Red Pfd Shs -A- Series -9 | 0.94% | 0.06% | 0.88% |
| TRP:CATc Energy Corp | 0.84% | 0.16% | 0.68% |
| AMAntero Midstream Corporationam | 0.98% | 0.01% | 0.97% |
| FTS:CAFortis Inc | 0.92% | 0.06% | 0.86% |
| SOBO:CASouth Bow Corp | 0.94% | 0.02% | 0.92% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ELFY 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, ELFY or VXUS?
ELFY has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $45 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ELFY or VXUS?
Over the past year ELFY returned +14.57% vs +20.82% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ELFY annualized +34.08% vs +34.70% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ELFY or VXUS?
ELFY has been the more volatile fund at 19.8% annualized versus 12.6% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: ELFY -14.9% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both ELFY and VXUS?
ELFY and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 ELFY and VXUS?
At least 14.7% of ELFY's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 114 positions we hold weights for in ELFY and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, ELFY or VXUS?
ELFY yields 1.07% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ELFY?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.