ISPY vs VXUS
ProShares S&P 500 High Income ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ISPY or VXUS?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y 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 | ISPY | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.56% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.01% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 512 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +4.36% | +12.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.86% | +19.71%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.25% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.59% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 11.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.4% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.7 years | $11,974 | $16,257Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 18, 2023 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 20, 2023 to Sep 15, 2026 (2.7 years).
ISPY 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 2.7 years both funds cover.
ISPY vs VXUS Performance
ProShares S&P 500 High Income ETF (ISPY) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ISPY returned +7.86% while VXUS returned +19.71%. Year to date, ISPY is up 4.36% versus a gain of 12.57% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ISPY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 11.1% 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 -18.4% for ISPY 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 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISPY charges 0.56% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $56 vs $5 annually, a gap of $51 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISPY currently yields 5.01% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of ISPY'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.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
4 positions in common, counted across the 504 positions we hold weights for in ISPY and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 512 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ISPY 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, ISPY or VXUS?
ISPY has an expense ratio of 0.56% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $51 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISPY or VXUS?
Over the past year ISPY returned +7.86% vs +19.71% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ISPY or VXUS?
ISPY has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 11.1% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: ISPY -18.4% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both ISPY and VXUS?
ISPY and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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, ISPY or VXUS?
ISPY yields 5.01% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so ISPY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ISPY?
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.