IUSB vs VXUS
iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, IUSB or VXUS?
Long Term Mid Quality against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | IUSB | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $43.5B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.29% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 17,578 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -1.03% | +12.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.04% | +19.86%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.56% | +19.33%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.18% | +9.46%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.8%Best | 14.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -50.2% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,910 | $15,714Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Mid Quality | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 10, 2014 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 12, 2014 to Sep 18, 2026 (12.3 years).
IUSB 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 12.3 years both funds cover.
IUSB vs VXUS Performance
iShares Core Universal USD Bond ETF (IUSB) 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 IUSB returned -0.04% while VXUS returned +19.86%. Year to date, IUSB is down 1.03% versus a gain of 12.82% for VXUS.
Over three years, IUSB compounded at +4.56% per year against +19.33% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -0.18% and +9.46% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +5.20% annualized vs +0.60%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.7% compared with 4.8% for IUSB. 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 -50.2% for IUSB 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 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IUSB charges 0.06% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $5 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IUSB currently yields 4.29% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 12,830 holdings in IUSB and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 60.4% 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, 3 positions appear in both.
3 positions in common, counted across the 12,830 positions we hold weights for in IUSB and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 17,578 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IUSB 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, IUSB or VXUS?
IUSB has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IUSB or VXUS?
Over the past year IUSB returned -0.04% vs +19.86% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), IUSB annualized +0.60% vs +5.20% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IUSB or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.7% annualized versus 4.8% for IUSB. Worst drawdown: IUSB -50.2% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both IUSB and VXUS?
IUSB and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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, IUSB or VXUS?
IUSB yields 4.29% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so IUSB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than IUSB?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. 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.