ILF vs VXUS
iShares Latin America 40 ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ILF or VXUS?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ILF led over 1Y and 5Y, VXUS over 3Y 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 | ILF | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.38% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 52 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +15.43%Best | +12.88% |
| 1Y Return | +25.77%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.14% | +20.14%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.68%Best | +8.87% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.7% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -71.5% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,165Best | $15,295 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 25, 2001 | 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 23, 2026 (15.7 years).
ILF 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 15.7 years both funds cover.
ILF vs VXUS Performance
iShares Latin America 40 ETF (ILF) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ILF returned +25.77% while VXUS returned +19.97%. Year to date, ILF is up 15.43% versus a gain of 12.88% for VXUS.
Over three years, ILF compounded at +17.14% per year against +20.14% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +12.68% and +8.87% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.72% annualized vs +0.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ILF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.7% 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 -71.5% for ILF 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ILF charges 0.47% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $5 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ILF currently yields 3.38% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 50.8% of ILF's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 88.8% 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.
27 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in ILF and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 52 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ILF | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMEXICOB:MXGrupo Mexico Sab De Cv | 6.63% | 0.08% | 6.55% |
| ITUB:BVItau Unibanco H-Spon Prf Adr | 6.36% | 0.00% | 6.36% |
| GFNORTEO:MXGrupo Financiero Banorte Sab De Cv | 4.22% | 0.08% | 4.14% |
| BAPCredicorp Ltd - Common | 3.85% | 0.00% | 3.85% |
| FEMSAUBD:MXFomento Economico Mexicano Sab De Cv | 3.11% | 0.05% | 3.06% |
| B3SA3:BVB3 Sa - Brasil Bolsa Balcao Ord BRL Npv | 2.44% | 0.04% | 2.40% |
| ITSA4:BVItausa - Investimentos Itau Sa | 2.27% | 0.04% | 2.23% |
| WEGE3:BVWeg Sa Common Stock Brl 0 | 2.20% | 0.03% | 2.17% |
| WALMEX:MXWal-Mart De Mexico Sab De Cv | 2.06% | 0.03% | 2.03% |
| BBAS3:BVBanco Do Brasil S.a. Common Stock | 1.77% | 0.02% | 1.75% |
50.8% of ILF 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, ILF or VXUS?
ILF has an expense ratio of 0.47% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ILF or VXUS?
Over the past year ILF returned +25.77% vs +19.97% for VXUS, so ILF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), ILF annualized +0.03% vs +4.72% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ILF or VXUS?
ILF has been the more volatile fund at 25.7% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: ILF -71.5% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both ILF and VXUS?
ILF and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ILF and VXUS?
At least 50.8% of ILF's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 27 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in ILF and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, ILF or VXUS?
ILF yields 3.38% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so ILF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ILF?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ILF led over 1Y and 5Y, VXUS over 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.