JAPN vs VXUS
Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, JAPN or VXUS?
VXUS has been ahead.
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 | JAPN | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $26M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.24% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 36 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -0.12% | +15.71%Best |
| 1Y Return | -10.36% | +25.07%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.3% | 12.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.9% | -11.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $10,288 | $13,809Best |
| Fund Family | Horizon Kinetics LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 12, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 13, 2025 to Sep 8, 2026 (1.3 years).
JAPN 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
JAPN vs VXUS Performance
Horizon Kinetics Japan Owner Operator ETF (JAPN) is an ETF from Horizon Kinetics LLC and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year JAPN returned -10.36% while VXUS returned +25.07%. Year to date, JAPN is down 0.12% versus a gain of 15.71% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JAPN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.3% compared with 12.5% 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 -23.9% for JAPN and -11.3% 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 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JAPN charges 0.85% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $5 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JAPN currently yields 0.24% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 31.3% of JAPN's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, JAPN as of Aug 19, 2026 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
13 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in JAPN and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 36 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in JAPN | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4681:JPResorttrust Inc | 4.33% | 0.00% | 4.33% |
| 9435:JPHikari Tsushin, Inc. | 3.75% | 0.01% | 3.74% |
| 7532:JPPan Pacific Intl Hldgs Co | 3.64% | 0.02% | 3.62% |
| 4194:JPVisional Inc | 3.61% | 0.00% | 3.61% |
| 4733:JPOBIC Business Consultants Co., Ltd. Com Stk | 3.21% | 0.00% | 3.21% |
| 7906:JPYonex Co. Ltd. | 3.01% | 0.00% | 3.01% |
| 8136:JPSanrio Co Ltd | 1.78% | 0.01% | 1.77% |
| 2413:JPM3 Inc|917 | 1.69% | 0.01% | 1.68% |
| 6315:JPTowa Corp | 1.66% | 0.00% | 1.66% |
| 7383:JPNet Protections Holdings Inc | 1.50% | 0.00% | 1.50% |
31.3% of JAPN is already inside VXUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, JAPN or VXUS?
JAPN has an expense ratio of 0.85% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JAPN or VXUS?
Over the past year JAPN returned -10.36% vs +25.07% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), JAPN annualized +2.21% vs +28.18% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JAPN or VXUS?
JAPN has been the more volatile fund at 16.3% annualized versus 12.5% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: JAPN -23.9% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both JAPN and VXUS?
JAPN and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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 JAPN and VXUS?
At least 31.3% of JAPN's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 13 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in JAPN and 8,092 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, JAPN or VXUS?
JAPN yields 0.24% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than JAPN?
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.