GCV vs VXUS
Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, GCV or VXUS?
Equity-oriented Balanced 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 | GCV | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.20% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $93M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.61% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 124 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +13.78%Best | +13.03% |
| 1Y Return | +20.19% | +20.20%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.18% | +19.23%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.84% | +8.73%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.2% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -50.5% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,073 | $15,197Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 31, 1995 | 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 14, 2026 (15.6 years).
GCV 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.
GCV vs VXUS Performance
Gabelli Convertible and Income Securities Fund (GCV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GCV returned +20.19% while VXUS returned +20.20%. Year to date, GCV is up 13.78% versus a gain of 13.03% for VXUS.
Over three years, GCV compounded at +19.18% per year against +19.23% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +3.84% and +8.73% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.74% annualized vs +1.65%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GCV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% 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 -50.5% for GCV 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GCV charges 3.20% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $320 vs $5 annually, a gap of $315 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GCV currently yields 10.61% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 69 holdings in GCV and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 50.4% and 88.8% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 6 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, GCV as of Mar 31, 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.
6 positions in common, counted across the 69 positions we hold weights for in GCV and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 124 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GCV 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, GCV or VXUS?
GCV has an expense ratio of 3.20% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $315 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GCV or VXUS?
Over the past year GCV returned +20.19% vs +20.20% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), GCV annualized +1.65% vs +4.74% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GCV or VXUS?
GCV has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: GCV -50.5% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both GCV and VXUS?
GCV and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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, GCV or VXUS?
GCV yields 10.61% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so GCV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than GCV?
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.