IXUS vs VTI
iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, IXUS or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IXUS led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IXUS is less concentrated, with 13.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | IXUS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $60.2B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.88% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 4,623 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +12.46%Best | +11.06% |
| 1Y Return | +19.24%Best | +15.41% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.20% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.55% | +11.52%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3%Best | 14.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.9% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,071 | $17,249Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.6%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 18, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2012 to Sep 16, 2026 (13.9 years).
IXUS vs VTI 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 13.9 years both funds cover.
IXUS vs VTI Performance
iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IXUS returned +19.24% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, IXUS is up 12.46% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, IXUS compounded at +19.20% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.55% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.00% annualized vs +6.14%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.6% compared with 14.3% for IXUS. 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 -39.9% for IXUS and -35.0% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IXUS charges 0.07% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $3 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IXUS currently yields 2.88% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
1.2% of IXUS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.7% of VTI's money is in holdings IXUS also owns.
IXUS and VTI share little of their money.
19 positions in common, counted across the 4,437 positions we hold weights for in IXUS and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 4,623 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,141 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for IXUS (96.8% of the fund), and 29 for IXUS that do not appear in VTI (1.6%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in IXUS | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ROPRoper Technologies Inc. | 0.69% | 0.05% | 0.64% |
| MRKMerck & Company Inc | 0.05% | 0.45% | 0.40% |
| DGDollar General Corp. | 0.14% | 0.04% | 0.10% |
| RBA:CARb Global, Inc | 0.04% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| LABStandard BioTools Inc | 0.06% | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| RFRegions Financial Corp. | 0.01% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| HALHalliburton Co. | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| FBKFb Financial Corp | 0.04% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| SIG:LNSignet Jewelers Limited Common Shares | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| MOHMolina Healthcare Inc_None_0 | 0.02% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of IXUS and VTI 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, IXUS or VTI?
IXUS has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IXUS or VTI?
Over the past year IXUS returned +19.24% vs +15.41% for VTI, so IXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), IXUS annualized +6.14% vs +13.00% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IXUS or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.6% annualized versus 14.3% for IXUS. Worst drawdown: IXUS -39.9% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both IXUS and VTI?
IXUS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IXUS and VTI?
1.2% of IXUS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.7% of VTI's is in holdings IXUS also owns. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 4,437 positions we hold weights for in IXUS and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, IXUS or VTI?
IXUS yields 2.88% while VTI yields 1.03%, so IXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than IXUS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IXUS led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IXUS is less concentrated, with 13.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.