FNCMX vs VXUS
Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, FNCMX or VXUS?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. FNCMX led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y.
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 | FNCMX | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.29% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | - | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.45% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 2,946 | 8,747 |
| YTD Price Return | +14.59%Best | +13.86% |
| 1Y Price Return | +18.06% | +18.67%Best |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | +24.83%Best | +17.12% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | +12.50%Best | +6.31% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.9% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -36.8% | -31.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,020Best | $13,579 |
| Fund Family | Fidelity Investments (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2003 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for FNCMX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. FNCMX yields 0.45% and VXUS 2.51% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 22, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (5 years).
FNCMX 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 5 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
FNCMX vs VXUS Performance
Fidelity NASDAQ Composite Index (FNCMX) is a mutual fund from Fidelity Investments (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FNCMX returned +18.06% while VXUS returned +18.67%. Year to date, FNCMX is up 14.59% versus a gain of 13.86% for VXUS.
Over three years, FNCMX compounded at +24.83% per year against +17.12% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +12.50% and +6.31% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FNCMX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.9% compared with 15.3% 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 -36.8% for FNCMX and -31.2% 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FNCMX charges 0.29% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $29 vs $5 annually, a gap of $24 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FNCMX currently yields 0.45% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Structure and taxes
FNCMX is a mutual fund and VXUS is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.5% of FNCMX'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.
FNCMX and VXUS share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 153 days apart, FNCMX as of Feb 28, 2026 and VXUS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
56 positions in common, counted across the 2,830 positions we hold weights for in FNCMX and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 2,946 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FNCMX | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHOP:CAShopify Inc | 0.38% | 0.32% | 0.06% |
| PDD:IEPdd Holdings Inc. | 0.18% | 0.15% | 0.03% |
| FER:ASFerrovial Se | 0.14% | 0.07% | 0.07% |
| ARGX:ASArgenx Se Sponsored Adr (1 Ads : 1 Ordinary) | 0.06% | 0.12% | 0.06% |
| ESLT:ILElbit Systems Ltd. | 0.09% | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| HBANHuntington Bancshares Inc./Oh | 0.09% | 0.05% | 0.04% |
| TRI:CAThomson Reuters Corp. | 0.11% | 0.03% | 0.08% |
| JDJd.com Inc | 0.03% | 0.09% | 0.06% |
| 9888:SHBaidu Inc ADR Class A | 0.04% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| TSEM:ILTower Semiconductor Ltd Ordinary Shares | 0.04% | 0.06% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FNCMX 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, FNCMX or VXUS?
FNCMX has an expense ratio of 0.29% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $24 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FNCMX or VXUS?
Over the past year FNCMX returned +18.06% vs +18.67% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FNCMX or VXUS?
FNCMX has been the more volatile fund at 19.9% annualized versus 15.3% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: FNCMX -36.8% vs VXUS -31.2%.
Should I hold both FNCMX and VXUS?
FNCMX and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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 FNCMX and VXUS?
At least 1.5% of FNCMX's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 56 positions in common, counted across the 2,830 positions we hold weights for in FNCMX and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, FNCMX or VXUS?
FNCMX yields 0.45% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold FNCMX or VXUS in a taxable account?
VXUS is an ETF and FNCMX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VXUS better than FNCMX?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. FNCMX led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.