IHYF vs VXUS

IHYF vs VXUS

Which is better, IHYF or VXUS?

High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.

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

Lower Fees: VXUSHigher Returns: VXUS

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

MetricIHYFVXUS
Expense Ratio0.39%0.05%Best
AUM$134M$158.1B
Dividend Yield6.50%2.51%
Holdings4328,747
Volatility (annualized)6.9%Best14.1%
Max Drawdown-36.0%-29.4%Best
$10,000 over 5.2 years$12,361$16,579Best
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleHigh Yield BondLarge Cap Blend
InceptionNov 30, 2020Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.

The two price series end 202 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. IHYF has data through Feb 20, 2026 and VXUS through Sep 10, 2026.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 5.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 3, 2020 to Feb 20, 2026 (5.2 years).

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 6.9% for IHYF. 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 -36.0% for IHYF and -29.4% 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

IHYF charges 0.39% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $5 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IHYF currently yields 6.50% against 2.51% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

IHYF already in VXUS0.3%

At least 0.3% of IHYF'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 273 days apart, IHYF as of Sep 30, 2025 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.

1 positions in common, counted across the 396 positions we hold weights for in IHYF and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 432 and 8,747.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in IHYFWeight in VXUSDifference
MIN:AUMineral Resources Ltd 9.25% 01Oct20280.32%0.02%0.30%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

IHYFVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, IHYF or VXUS?

IHYF has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which is riskier, IHYF or VXUS?

VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 6.9% for IHYF. Worst drawdown: IHYF -36.0% vs VXUS -29.4%.

Should I hold both IHYF and VXUS?

IHYF and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, IHYF or VXUS?

IHYF yields 6.50% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so IHYF currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than IHYF?

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