ELM vs VXUS
Elm Market Navigator ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ELM or VXUS?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95.
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 | ELM | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.24% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $595M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.50% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 20 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +7.58% | +12.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.81% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.14% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.87% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.7%Best | 12.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.0%Best | -13.6% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $12,074 | $14,377Best |
| Fund Family | Elm Partners Management LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 10, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 11, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.6 years).
ELM 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
ELM vs VXUS Performance
Elm Market Navigator ETF (ELM) is an ETF from Elm Partners Management LLC and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ELM returned +10.81% while VXUS returned +19.97%. Year to date, ELM is up 7.58% versus a gain of 12.88% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.1% compared with 7.7% for ELM. 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 -9.0% for ELM and -13.6% 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ELM charges 0.24% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $24 vs $5 annually, a gap of $19 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ELM currently yields 2.50% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 15.0% of ELM'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.
ELM and VXUS share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 19 positions we hold weights for in ELM and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 20 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ELM 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, ELM or VXUS?
ELM has an expense ratio of 0.24% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $19 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ELM or VXUS?
Over the past year ELM returned +10.81% vs +19.97% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ELM annualized +12.50% vs +25.47% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ELM or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 12.1% annualized versus 7.7% for ELM. Worst drawdown: ELM -9.0% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both ELM and VXUS?
ELM and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ELM and VXUS?
At least 15.0% of ELM's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 19 positions we hold weights for in ELM and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, ELM or VXUS?
ELM yields 2.50% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ELM?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.