EWY vs VXUS
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, EWY or VXUS?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EWY 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 | EWY | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $27.2B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.12% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 84 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +85.05%Best | +14.49% |
| 1Y Return | +137.14%Best | +21.52% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +49.55%Best | +20.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +20.97%Best | +9.57% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.9% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.7% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $25,905Best | $15,793 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 9, 2000 | 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 21, 2026 (15.6 years).
EWY 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.
EWY vs VXUS Performance
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) 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 EWY returned +137.14% while VXUS returned +21.52%. Year to date, EWY is up 85.05% versus a gain of 14.49% for VXUS.
Over three years, EWY compounded at +49.55% per year against +20.55% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +20.97% and +9.57% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, EWY has the edge at +9.45% annualized vs +4.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.9% compared with 15.0% 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 -49.7% for EWY 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWY charges 0.59% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $5 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EWY currently yields 1.12% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 57.5% of EWY'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.
50 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in EWY and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 84 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EWY | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 23.69% | 1.41% | 22.28% |
| 402340:KRSk Square Co., Ltd. | 2.86% | 0.14% | 2.72% |
| 055550:KRShinhan Financial Group Co Ltd | 1.62% | 0.07% | 1.55% |
| 086790:KRHana Financial Group Inc | 1.38% | 0.05% | 1.33% |
| 12450:KRHanwha Aerospace Ltd | 1.31% | 0.05% | 1.26% |
| 006400:KRSamsung Sdi Co Ltd | 1.29% | 0.04% | 1.25% |
| 035420:KRNaver | 1.20% | 0.05% | 1.15% |
| 028260:KRSamsung C&T Corp | 1.17% | 0.04% | 1.13% |
| 000270:KRKia Corporation | 1.13% | 0.05% | 1.08% |
| 068270:KRCelltrion Inc | 1.12% | 0.04% | 1.08% |
57.5% of EWY 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, EWY or VXUS?
EWY has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EWY or VXUS?
Over the past year EWY returned +137.14% vs +21.52% for VXUS, so EWY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), EWY annualized +9.45% vs +4.82% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWY or VXUS?
EWY has been the more volatile fund at 27.9% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: EWY -49.7% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both EWY and VXUS?
EWY and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 EWY and VXUS?
At least 57.5% of EWY's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 50 positions in common, counted across the 77 positions we hold weights for in EWY and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, EWY or VXUS?
EWY yields 1.12% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than EWY?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EWY 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.