GDV vs VXUS
Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, GDV or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. GDV led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y.
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 | GDV | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.30% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $3.5B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.23% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 715 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +12.48% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.80% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.39% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.74% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.1% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -58.1% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,204 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 28, 2003 | 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).
GDV 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.
GDV vs VXUS Performance
Gabelli Dividend & Income Trust (GDV) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GDV returned +18.80% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, GDV is up 12.48% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, GDV compounded at +20.39% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +8.74% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, GDV has the edge at +6.56% annualized vs +4.93%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.1% 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 -58.1% for GDV 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDV charges 1.30% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $130 vs $5 annually, a gap of $125 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDV currently yields 5.23% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 679 holdings in GDV and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 110.5% and 87.7% 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, 106 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, GDV as of Mar 31, 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.
106 positions in common, counted across the 679 positions we hold weights for in GDV and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 715 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GDV | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6758:JPSony Corp | 1.32% | 0.26% | 1.06% |
| RR:LNRolls Royce Holdings Plc Common Stock Gbp.2 | 0.64% | 0.36% | 0.28% |
| SHELShell Plc | 0.28% | 0.48% | 0.20% |
| NESN:SMNestlã S.A., Registered Shares | 0.09% | 0.59% | 0.50% |
| HALHalliburton Co. | 0.64% | 0.02% | 0.62% |
| WCN:CAWaste Connections Inc Common Stock Cad 0 | 0.57% | 0.09% | 0.48% |
| AZN:LNAstraZeneca PLC | 0.01% | 0.62% | 0.61% |
| EQNR:OSEquinor Asa Sponsored Adr - Sponsored (1 Ads : 1 Ordinary) | 0.57% | 0.05% | 0.52% |
| AEM:CAAgnico Eagle Mines Ltd | 0.41% | 0.18% | 0.23% |
| FP:PATotal Se | 0.24% | 0.33% | 0.09% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GDV 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, GDV or VXUS?
GDV has an expense ratio of 1.30% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $125 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDV or VXUS?
Over the past year GDV returned +18.80% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), GDV annualized +6.56% vs +4.93% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDV or VXUS?
GDV has been the more volatile fund at 18.1% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: GDV -58.1% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both GDV and VXUS?
GDV and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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, GDV or VXUS?
GDV yields 5.23% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so GDV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than GDV?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. GDV led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.