GUSA vs VXUS
Goldman Sachs MarketBeta US 1000 Equity ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, GUSA or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. GUSA led over 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y.
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 | GUSA | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.10% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $2.4B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 1,009 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +11.41% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.82% | +22.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.17%Best | +19.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.4% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.6%Best | -21.6% |
| $10,000 over 4.4 years | $17,888Best | $16,909 |
| Fund Family | Goldman Sachs Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 5, 2022 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 12, 2022 to Sep 10, 2026 (4.4 years).
GUSA 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 4.4 years both funds cover.
GUSA vs VXUS Performance
Goldman Sachs MarketBeta US 1000 Equity ETF (GUSA) 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 GUSA returned +16.82% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, GUSA is up 11.41% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Over three years, GUSA compounded at +20.17% per year against +19.44% for VXUS. Across the full 4-year window we track, GUSA has the edge at +14.13% annualized vs +12.68%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GUSA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.4% compared with 15.2% 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 -19.6% for GUSA and -21.6% 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GUSA charges 0.10% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $10 vs $5 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GUSA currently yields 0.99% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of GUSA's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, GUSA as of Aug 17, 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.
12 positions in common, counted across the 881 positions we hold weights for in GUSA and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 1,009 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GUSA | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ORCLOracle Corp. | 0.34% | 0.00% | 0.34% |
| SUNBSunbelt Rentals | 0.05% | 0.07% | 0.02% |
| UMG:ASUniversal Music Group N.V. Universal Music Group N V | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| AMRZ:SMAmrize Ag | 0.03% | 0.06% | 0.03% |
| HBANHuntington Bancshares Inc./Oh | 0.05% | 0.04% | 0.01% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 0.08% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| JHX:AUJames Hardie Industries Plc Sponsored Adr (1 Ads : 1 Ordinary) | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| HAL:MBHindustan Aeronautics Ltd | 0.04% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| 9987:SHYum China Holdings Inc | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.00% |
| BEPC:CABrookfield Renewable Corporation Class A Subordinate Voting Shares | 0.01% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GUSA 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, GUSA or VXUS?
GUSA has an expense ratio of 0.10% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GUSA or VXUS?
Over the past year GUSA returned +16.82% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), GUSA annualized +14.13% vs +12.68% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GUSA or VXUS?
GUSA has been the more volatile fund at 15.4% annualized versus 15.2% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: GUSA -19.6% vs VXUS -21.6%.
Should I hold both GUSA and VXUS?
GUSA and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, GUSA or VXUS?
GUSA yields 0.99% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than GUSA?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. GUSA led over 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.