FREL vs VXUS
Fidelity MSCI Real Estate Index ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, FREL or VXUS?
All Cap Blend 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 | FREL | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.08% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.27% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 126 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +8.38% | +13.03%Best |
| 1Y Return | +5.25% | +20.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.01% | +19.23%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.31% | +8.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.1% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.5% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,672 | $15,197Best |
| Fund Family | Fidelity Investments (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 2, 2015 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 5, 2015 to Sep 14, 2026 (11.6 years).
FREL 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 11.6 years both funds cover.
FREL vs VXUS Performance
Fidelity MSCI Real Estate Index ETF (FREL) is an ETF from Fidelity Investments (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FREL returned +5.25% while VXUS returned +20.20%. Year to date, FREL is up 8.38% versus a gain of 13.03% for VXUS.
Over three years, FREL compounded at +9.01% per year against +19.23% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +1.31% and +8.73% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +6.28% annualized vs +2.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FREL 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 -43.5% for FREL 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FREL charges 0.08% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $8 vs $5 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FREL currently yields 3.27% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of FREL'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.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 123 positions we hold weights for in FREL and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 126 and 8,747.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 123 and 8,082 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 35 positions FREL does not, 2.3% of the fund.
Largest: MKL 0.76%, SHEL 0.57%, VWO 0.11%, JD 0.09%, ALC 0.08%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FREL | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EGPEastgroup Properties Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 0.67% | 0.00% | 0.67% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FREL 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, FREL or VXUS?
FREL has an expense ratio of 0.08% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FREL or VXUS?
Over the past year FREL returned +5.25% vs +20.20% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), FREL annualized +2.93% vs +6.28% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FREL or VXUS?
FREL has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 14.8% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: FREL -43.5% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both FREL and VXUS?
FREL and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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, FREL or VXUS?
FREL yields 3.27% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so FREL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than FREL?
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.