GABF vs VXUS

GABF vs VXUS

Which is better, GABF or VXUS?

Each has led over a different period.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. GABF led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y.

Lower Fees: VXUSHigher Returns: split

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

MetricGABFVXUS
Expense Ratio1.24%0.05%Best
AUM$54M$158.1B
Dividend Yield2.00%2.59%
Holdings428,747
YTD Return+0.20%+16.15%Best
1Y Return-2.89%+27.58%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+20.19%+20.48%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-+9.09%
Volatility (annualized)19.6%15.3%Best
Max Drawdown-20.9%-19.3%Best
$10,000 over 4.3 years$20,953Best$18,952
Fund FamilyGabelli FundsVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMay 10, 2022Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 10, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (4.3 years).

GABF 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 4.3 years both funds cover.

GABF vs VXUS Performance

Gabelli Financial Services Opportunities ETF (GABF) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GABF returned -2.89% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, GABF is up 0.20% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.

Over three years, GABF compounded at +20.19% per year against +20.48% for VXUS. Across the full 4-year window we track, GABF has the edge at +18.77% annualized vs +16.03%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

GABF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% 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 -20.9% for GABF and -19.3% 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 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

GABF charges 1.24% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $124 vs $5 annually, a gap of $119 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GABF currently yields 2.00% against 2.59% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 42 holdings in GABF and 8,092 in VXUS, totalling 99.3% and 87.5% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, GABF as of Aug 19, 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.

0 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in GABF and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 42 and 8,747.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of GABF and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

GABFVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GABF or VXUS?

GABF has an expense ratio of 1.24% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $119 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, GABF or VXUS?

Over the past year GABF returned -2.89% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), GABF annualized +18.77% vs +16.03% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, GABF or VXUS?

GABF has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 15.3% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: GABF -20.9% vs VXUS -19.3%.

Should I hold both GABF and VXUS?

GABF and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, GABF or VXUS?

GABF yields 2.00% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than GABF?

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. GABF led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.