GEM vs VXUS
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, GEM or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. GEM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | GEM | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $164.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.87% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 1,478 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +21.02%Best | +12.44% |
| 1Y Return | +27.90%Best | +18.26% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.47%Best | +21.40% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.03% | +9.67%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -37.0%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,407 | $15,865Best |
| Fund Family | Goldman Sachs Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2015 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2015 to Oct 2, 2026 (11 years).
GEM 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 years both funds cover.
GEM vs VXUS Performance
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta Emerging Markets Equity ETF (GEM) is an ETF from Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GEM returned +27.90% while VXUS returned +18.26%. Year to date, GEM is up 21.02% versus a gain of 12.44% for VXUS.
Over three years, GEM compounded at +23.47% per year against +21.40% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.03% and +9.67% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, GEM has the edge at +9.22% annualized vs +8.00%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% 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 -37.0% for GEM 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GEM charges 0.35% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $5 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GEM currently yields 1.87% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 51.9% of GEM's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 89.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, GEM as of Sep 15, 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.
529 positions in common, counted across the 732 positions we hold weights for in GEM and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 1,478 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GEM | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc | 4.67% | 1.41% | 3.26% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 1.52% | 0.62% | 0.90% |
| 2454:TWMediaTek Inc ORD TWD10 | 1.61% | 0.35% | 1.26% |
| 2308:TWDelta Electronics Inc | 0.71% | 0.21% | 0.50% |
| 2317:TWHon Hai Precision Industry Co Ltd | 0.45% | 0.21% | 0.24% |
| ICICIBANK:MBIcici Bank Ltd | 0.43% | 0.18% | 0.25% |
| HDFCBANK:MBHDFC Bank Ltd | 0.40% | 0.20% | 0.20% |
| RELIANCE:MBReliance Industries Ltd | 0.35% | 0.21% | 0.14% |
| 009150:KRSamsung Electro-Mechanics Co Ltd | 0.46% | 0.09% | 0.37% |
| 1398:HKIndustrial And Commercial Bank Of China Ltd Class H | 0.35% | 0.17% | 0.18% |
51.9% of GEM is already inside VXUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GEM or VXUS?
GEM has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GEM or VXUS?
Over the past year GEM returned +27.90% vs +18.26% for VXUS, so GEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), GEM annualized +9.22% vs +8.00% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GEM or VXUS?
GEM has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 14.8% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: GEM -37.0% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both GEM and VXUS?
GEM and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between GEM and VXUS?
At least 51.9% of GEM's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 529 positions in common, counted across the 732 positions we hold weights for in GEM and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, GEM or VXUS?
GEM yields 1.87% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than GEM?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. GEM led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.