ESGE vs VXUS
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ESGE or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ESGE led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | ESGE | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $6.9B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.23% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 315 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +23.13%Best | +16.15% |
| 1Y Return | +40.60%Best | +27.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +24.57%Best | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.77% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -41.1% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,537 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 28, 2016 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 20, 2016 to Sep 4, 2026 (10.1 years).
ESGE 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 10.1 years both funds cover.
ESGE vs VXUS Performance
iShares ESG Aware MSCI EM ETF (ESGE) 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 ESGE returned +40.60% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, ESGE is up 23.13% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, ESGE compounded at +24.57% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +7.77% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, ESGE has the edge at +8.77% annualized vs +8.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ESGE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 14.8% 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 -41.1% for ESGE 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESGE charges 0.25% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $5 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ESGE currently yields 2.23% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 50.1% of ESGE's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.5% 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.
174 positions in common, counted across the 285 positions we hold weights for in ESGE and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 315 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ESGE | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix | 5.46% | 2.17% | 3.29% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 1.98% | 0.49% | 1.49% |
| 2454:TWMediatek, Inc. | 1.43% | 0.44% | 0.99% |
| 2308:TWDelta Electronics | 0.97% | 0.27% | 0.70% |
| 2412:TWChunghwa Telecom Co. Ltd. | 1.05% | 0.04% | 1.01% |
| 992:HKLenovo Group Ltd | 0.94% | 0.05% | 0.89% |
| 1120:SAAl Rajhi Bank | 0.81% | 0.11% | 0.70% |
| 402340:KRSk Square Co., Ltd. | 0.69% | 0.22% | 0.47% |
| 2317:TWHon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd Ord Twd10 | 0.63% | 0.22% | 0.41% |
| 2882:TWCathay Financial Holdings Co. Ltd. | 0.76% | 0.07% | 0.69% |
50.1% of ESGE 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, ESGE or VXUS?
ESGE has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ESGE or VXUS?
Over the past year ESGE returned +40.60% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so ESGE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), ESGE annualized +8.77% vs +8.50% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ESGE or VXUS?
ESGE has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 14.8% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: ESGE -41.1% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both ESGE and VXUS?
ESGE and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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 ESGE and VXUS?
At least 50.1% of ESGE's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 174 positions in common, counted across the 285 positions we hold weights for in ESGE and 8,092 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESGE or VXUS?
ESGE yields 2.23% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ESGE?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ESGE led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.