EMXF vs VXUS
iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, EMXF or VXUS?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EMXF 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 | EMXF | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.16% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $172M | $164.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.68% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 587 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +21.79%Best | +11.16% |
| 1Y Return | +29.51%Best | +17.13% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.70%Best | +20.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.41%Best | +9.18% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.2% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -33.1% | -29.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,678Best | $15,514 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 6, 2020 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 13, 2020 to Oct 1, 2026 (6 years).
EMXF 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 6 years both funds cover.
EMXF vs VXUS Performance
iShares ESG Advanced MSCI EM ETF (EMXF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EMXF returned +29.51% while VXUS returned +17.13%. Year to date, EMXF is up 21.79% versus a gain of 11.16% for VXUS.
Over three years, EMXF compounded at +24.70% per year against +20.44% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.41% and +9.18% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, EMXF has the edge at +11.06% annualized vs +10.92%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMXF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% compared with 14.9% 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 -33.1% for EMXF and -29.4% 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
EMXF charges 0.16% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $16 vs $5 annually, a gap of $11 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMXF currently yields 2.68% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 61.5% of EMXF's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 89.3% 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.
355 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in EMXF and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 587 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EMXF | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 6.05% | 1.41% | 4.64% |
| 2454:TWMediaTek Inc ORD TWD10 | 3.64% | 0.35% | 3.29% |
| 2308:TWDelta Electronics Inc | 1.71% | 0.21% | 1.50% |
| HDFCBANK:MBHDFC Bank Ltd | 1.46% | 0.20% | 1.26% |
| 402340:KRSK Square Co. Ltd. | 1.29% | 0.14% | 1.15% |
| 1398:HKIndustrial And Commercial Bank Of China Ltd Class H | 1.09% | 0.17% | 0.92% |
| 3711:TWAse Technology Holding Co Lt | 1.12% | 0.13% | 0.99% |
| 009150:KRSamsung Electro-Mechanics Co Ltd | 1.01% | 0.09% | 0.92% |
| 1120:SAAl Rajhi Bank | 0.89% | 0.11% | 0.78% |
| 3988:HKBank Of China Ltd. | 0.89% | 0.11% | 0.78% |
61.5% of EMXF 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, EMXF or VXUS?
EMXF has an expense ratio of 0.16% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $11 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMXF or VXUS?
Over the past year EMXF returned +29.51% vs +17.13% for VXUS, so EMXF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), EMXF annualized +11.06% vs +10.92% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMXF or VXUS?
EMXF has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 14.9% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: EMXF -33.1% vs VXUS -29.4%.
Should I hold both EMXF and VXUS?
EMXF 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 EMXF and VXUS?
At least 61.5% of EMXF's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 355 positions in common, counted across the 557 positions we hold weights for in EMXF and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, EMXF or VXUS?
EMXF yields 2.68% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so EMXF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than EMXF?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EMXF 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.