ETV vs VXUS
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ETV or VXUS?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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 | ETV | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.08% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.57% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 174 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +13.02% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.46% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.70% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.36% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.8%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -46.8% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,263 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | Eaton Vance | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 27, 2005 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (15.6 years).
ETV 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
ETV vs VXUS Performance
Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Buy-Write Opportunities Fund (ETV) is an ETF from Eaton Vance and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ETV returned +18.46% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, ETV is up 13.02% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, ETV compounded at +15.70% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +7.36% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.93% annualized vs +4.21%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 13.8% for ETV. 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 -46.8% for ETV 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ETV charges 1.08% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $108 vs $5 annually, a gap of $103 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ETV currently yields 7.57% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of ETV's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, ETV as of Mar 31, 2026 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 151 positions we hold weights for in ETV and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 174 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ETV 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, ETV or VXUS?
ETV has an expense ratio of 1.08% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $103 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ETV or VXUS?
Over the past year ETV returned +18.46% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), ETV annualized +4.21% vs +4.93% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ETV or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 13.8% for ETV. Worst drawdown: ETV -46.8% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both ETV and VXUS?
ETV 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, ETV or VXUS?
ETV yields 7.57% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so ETV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ETV?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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.