ITOT vs VXUS
iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ITOT or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
ITOT has a lower expense ratio. ITOT led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y.
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 | ITOT | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.05% |
| AUM | $95.7B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 2,502 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +11.04% | +12.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.35% | +19.22%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.46%Best | +19.10% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.52%Best | +8.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -49.9% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,249Best | $15,127 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 20, 2004 | 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 16, 2026 (15.6 years).
ITOT 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
ITOT vs VXUS Performance
iShares Core S&P Total US Stock Market ETF (ITOT) 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 ITOT returned +15.35% while VXUS returned +19.22%. Year to date, ITOT is up 11.04% versus a gain of 12.21% for VXUS.
Over three years, ITOT compounded at +20.46% per year against +19.10% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +11.52% and +8.63% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, ITOT has the edge at +12.28% annualized vs +4.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 14.6% for ITOT. 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 -49.9% for ITOT 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ITOT charges 0.03% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $5 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ITOT currently yields 0.98% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,631 holdings in ITOT and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 94.2% 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, 14 positions appear in both.
14 positions in common, counted across the 1,631 positions we hold weights for in ITOT and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 2,502 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ITOT | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLMarkel Group Inc | 0.03% | 0.76% | 0.73% |
| SUNBSunbelt Rentals | 0.04% | 0.07% | 0.03% |
| AMRZ:SMAmrize Ag | 0.04% | 0.06% | 0.02% |
| HBANHuntington Bancshares Inc./Oh | 0.05% | 0.05% | 0.00% |
| RBA:CARb Global, Inc | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 0.08% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| HALHalliburton Co. | 0.04% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| FBKFb Financial Corp | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.04% |
| KRKroger Co. | 0.04% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| EGPEastgroup Properties Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ITOT 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, ITOT or VXUS?
ITOT has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VXUS charges 0.05%. ITOT is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ITOT or VXUS?
Over the past year ITOT returned +15.35% vs +19.22% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), ITOT annualized +12.28% vs +4.69% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ITOT or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 14.6% for ITOT. Worst drawdown: ITOT -49.9% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both ITOT and VXUS?
ITOT and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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, ITOT or VXUS?
ITOT yields 0.98% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ITOT?
ITOT has a lower expense ratio. ITOT led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.