ISD vs VXUS

ISD vs VXUS

Which is better, ISD or VXUS?

High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.

VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Higher 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

MetricISDVXUS
Expense Ratio-0.05%
AUM$468M$158.1B
Dividend Yield9.31%2.51%
Holdings7808,747
YTD Return-12.31%+12.57%Best
1Y Return-10.71%+19.71%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+9.33%+19.25%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+3.01%+8.59%Best
Volatility (annualized)12.2%Best14.5%
Max Drawdown-54.3%-39.9%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$11,598$15,099Best
Fund FamilyPGIM InvestmentsVanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleHigh Yield BondLarge Cap Blend
InceptionApr 26, 2012Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2012 to Sep 15, 2026 (14.4 years).

ISD 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 14.4 years both funds cover.

ISD vs VXUS Performance

PGIM High Yield Bond Fund, Inc (ISD) is an ETF from PGIM Investments and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ISD returned -10.71% while VXUS returned +19.71%. Year to date, ISD is down 12.31% versus a gain of 12.57% for VXUS.

Over three years, ISD compounded at +9.33% per year against +19.25% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +3.01% and +8.59% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +5.83% annualized vs +0.06%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.5% compared with 12.2% for ISD. 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 -54.3% for ISD 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 609 holdings in ISD and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 81.3% and 88.8% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.

The two holdings books were reported 182 days apart, ISD as of Jan 30, 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.

1 positions in common, counted across the 609 positions we hold weights for in ISD and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 780 and 8,747.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in ISDWeight in VXUSDifference
MIN:AUMineral Resources Ltd 9.25% 01Oct20280.18%0.02%0.16%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

ISDVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which performed better, ISD or VXUS?

Over the past year ISD returned -10.71% vs +19.71% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), ISD annualized +0.06% vs +5.83% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, ISD or VXUS?

VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.5% annualized versus 12.2% for ISD. Worst drawdown: ISD -54.3% vs VXUS -39.9%.

Should I hold both ISD and VXUS?

ISD and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, ISD or VXUS?

ISD yields 9.31% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so ISD currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than ISD?

VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.