EXI vs VXUS
iShares Global Industrials ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, EXI or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EXI led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y. 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 | EXI | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.07% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 238 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +11.69% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.41% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.26% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.51%Best | +9.09% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.6%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,241Best | $15,450 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 12, 2006 | 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).
EXI 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.
EXI vs VXUS Performance
iShares Global Industrials ETF (EXI) 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 EXI returned +18.41% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, EXI is up 11.69% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, EXI compounded at +20.26% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +11.51% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, EXI has the edge at +9.08% annualized vs +4.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EXI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% 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 -39.6% for EXI 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
EXI charges 0.38% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $5 annually, a gap of $33 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EXI currently yields 1.07% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 25.6% of EXI'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.
EXI and VXUS share little of their money.
84 positions in common, counted across the 218 positions we hold weights for in EXI and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 238 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EXI | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIE:SGSiemens Ag | 2.24% | 0.52% | 1.72% |
| RR:LNRolls-Royce Holdings Plc | 1.64% | 0.36% | 1.28% |
| ABBN:SMAbb Ltd.[Abbn] | 1.60% | 0.37% | 1.23% |
| SAF:PASafran Sa | 1.34% | 0.30% | 1.04% |
| 6501:JPHitachi Limited | 1.31% | 0.27% | 1.04% |
| 402340:KRSk Square Co., Ltd. | 0.83% | 0.22% | 0.61% |
| CP:CACanadian Pacific Railway Ltd. | 0.76% | 0.17% | 0.59% |
| 6503:JPMitsubishi Electric Corp. Com Stk | 0.76% | 0.16% | 0.60% |
| CNI:CACanadian National Railway | 0.64% | 0.14% | 0.50% |
| DHL:SGDeutsche Post Ag | 0.57% | 0.12% | 0.45% |
25.6% of EXI 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, EXI or VXUS?
EXI has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $33 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EXI or VXUS?
Over the past year EXI returned +18.41% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), EXI annualized +9.08% vs +4.93% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EXI or VXUS?
EXI has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: EXI -39.6% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both EXI and VXUS?
EXI 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 EXI and VXUS?
At least 25.6% of EXI's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 84 positions in common, counted across the 218 positions we hold weights for in EXI and 8,092 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, EXI or VXUS?
EXI yields 1.07% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than EXI?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EXI led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y. 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.