JRI vs VXUS
Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, JRI or VXUS?
Allocation/Balanced 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 | JRI | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.97% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | - | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.87% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 413 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -3.26% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.91% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.14% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.71% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.0% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.3% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,588 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 25, 2012 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 25, 2012 to Sep 4, 2026 (14.4 years).
JRI 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 14.4 years both funds cover.
JRI vs VXUS Performance
Nuveen Real Asset Income and Growth Fund (JRI) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year JRI returned +0.91% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, JRI is down 3.26% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, JRI compounded at +16.14% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +4.71% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +6.09% annualized vs +0.81%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
JRI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.0% compared with 14.5% 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 -64.3% for JRI 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
JRI charges 3.97% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $397 vs $5 annually, a gap of $392 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, JRI currently yields 11.87% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 247 holdings in JRI and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 69.9% and 87.7% 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, 55 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 151 days apart, JRI as of Jan 30, 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.
55 positions in common, counted across the 247 positions we hold weights for in JRI and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 413 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in JRI | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENB:CAEnbridge Inc. | 1.25% | 0.26% | 0.99% |
| PPL.R:CAPembina Pipeline Corp | 0.93% | 0.06% | 0.87% |
| SIA:CASienna Senior Living Inc | 0.82% | 0.02% | 0.80% |
| LMPL:LNLondonmetric Property Plc | 0.82% | 0.01% | 0.81% |
| IBE:MAIberdrola Sa | 0.38% | 0.37% | 0.01% |
| 1972:HKSwire Properties Limited Shs | 0.71% | 0.01% | 0.70% |
| INW:MIInfrastrutture Wireless Italiane SpA | 0.70% | 0.00% | 0.70% |
| TRP:CATc Energy Corp | 0.53% | 0.15% | 0.38% |
| CQR:AUCharter Hall Retail Reit | 0.56% | 0.00% | 0.56% |
| FCRT:SIFrasers Centrepoint Trust | 0.55% | 0.00% | 0.55% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of JRI 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, JRI or VXUS?
JRI has an expense ratio of 3.97% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $392 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, JRI or VXUS?
Over the past year JRI returned +0.91% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), JRI annualized +0.81% vs +6.09% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, JRI or VXUS?
JRI has been the more volatile fund at 20.0% annualized versus 14.5% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: JRI -64.3% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both JRI and VXUS?
JRI and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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, JRI or VXUS?
JRI yields 11.87% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so JRI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than JRI?
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.