INTL vs VXUS
Main International ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, INTL or VXUS?
Tactical Allocation against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97.
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 | INTL | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.84% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $244M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.30% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 10 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +9.66% | +13.64%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.21% | +20.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.07% | +19.58%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.2% | 12.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -14.5% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.8 years | $16,458 | $18,089Best |
| Fund Family | Main Management ETF Advisors, LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Tactical Allocation | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 1, 2022 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 2, 2022 to Sep 17, 2026 (3.8 years).
INTL 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 3.8 years both funds cover.
INTL vs VXUS Performance
Main International ETF (INTL) is an ETF from Main Management ETF Advisors, LLC and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year INTL returned +11.21% while VXUS returned +20.82%. Year to date, INTL is up 9.66% versus a gain of 13.64% for VXUS.
Over three years, INTL compounded at +16.07% per year against +19.58% for VXUS. Across the full 4-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +16.88% annualized vs +14.01%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
INTL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.2% compared with 12.7% 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 -14.5% for INTL and -13.6% 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
INTL charges 0.84% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $84 vs $5 annually, a gap of $79 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, INTL currently yields 3.30% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 9 holdings in INTL and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 100.0% and 88.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 9 positions we hold weights for in INTL and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 10 and 8,747.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 9 and 8,082 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 35 positions INTL does not, 2.3% of the fund.
Largest: MKL 0.76%, SHEL 0.57%, VWO 0.11%, JD 0.09%, ALC 0.08%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of INTL 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, INTL or VXUS?
INTL has an expense ratio of 0.84% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $79 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, INTL or VXUS?
Over the past year INTL returned +11.21% vs +20.82% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), INTL annualized +14.01% vs +16.88% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, INTL or VXUS?
INTL has been the more volatile fund at 13.2% annualized versus 12.7% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: INTL -14.5% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both INTL and VXUS?
INTL and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, INTL or VXUS?
INTL yields 3.30% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so INTL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than INTL?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.