EMES vs VXUS
Harbor Emerging Markets Select ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, EMES or VXUS?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EMES 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 | EMES | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $12M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.43% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 60 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +25.90%Best | +14.49% |
| 1Y Return | +31.22%Best | +21.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.57% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -13.0% | -11.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $14,733Best | $13,793 |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 14, 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: May 15, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.4 years).
EMES 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.
EMES vs VXUS Performance
Harbor Emerging Markets Select ETF (EMES) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EMES returned +31.22% while VXUS returned +21.52%. Year to date, EMES is up 25.90% versus a gain of 14.49% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMES has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% 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 -13.0% for EMES 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMES charges 0.65% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $5 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMES currently yields 0.43% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 44.4% of EMES'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.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
30 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in EMES and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 60 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EMES | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock Krw5000.0 | 5.74% | 1.41% | 4.33% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Ltd | 2.77% | 0.62% | 2.15% |
| 2454:TWMediaTek Inc ORD TWD10 | 2.29% | 0.35% | 1.94% |
| 300750:SHContemporary Amperex Technology Con Ltd. | 2.27% | 0.04% | 2.23% |
| 0388:HKHong Kong Exchanges + Clear | 2.11% | 0.14% | 1.97% |
| ICT:PHIntl Container Term Svcs Php1 | 2.02% | 0.04% | 1.98% |
| 2345:TWAccton Technology Corp | 1.65% | 0.07% | 1.58% |
| TITAN:MBTitan Company Limited | 1.66% | 0.04% | 1.62% |
| BAPCredicorp Ltd - Common | 1.57% | 0.00% | 1.57% |
| PHOE:MBPhoenix Mills Ltd | 1.54% | 0.03% | 1.51% |
44.4% of EMES is already inside VXUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, EMES or VXUS?
EMES has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMES or VXUS?
Over the past year EMES returned +31.22% vs +21.52% for VXUS, so EMES leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), EMES annualized +31.89% vs +25.82% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMES or VXUS?
EMES has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 12.6% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: EMES -13.0% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both EMES and VXUS?
EMES and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, 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 EMES and VXUS?
At least 44.4% of EMES's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 30 positions in common, counted across the 52 positions we hold weights for in EMES and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, EMES or VXUS?
EMES yields 0.43% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than EMES?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EMES 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.