KAT vs VXUS
Scharf ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, KAT 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 | KAT | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $672M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.45% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 35 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +5.22% | +14.94%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.25% | +21.99%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.89% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.48% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.4%Best | 13.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.3%Best | -11.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,642 | $12,629Best |
| Fund Family | Scharf Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 30, 2011 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 25, 2025 to Sep 22, 2026 (1.1 years).
KAT 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
KAT vs VXUS Performance
Scharf ETF (KAT) is an ETF from Scharf Funds and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year KAT returned +3.25% while VXUS returned +21.99%. Year to date, KAT is up 5.22% versus a gain of 14.94% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.4% compared with 12.4% for KAT. 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 -9.3% for KAT 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
KAT charges 0.75% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $5 annually, a gap of $70 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, KAT currently yields 0.45% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 13.8% of KAT's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 88.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
KAT and VXUS share little of their money.
4 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in KAT and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 35 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of KAT 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, KAT or VXUS?
KAT has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $70 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, KAT or VXUS?
Over the past year KAT returned +3.25% vs +21.99% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), KAT annualized +5.82% vs +23.64% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KAT or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 13.4% annualized versus 12.4% for KAT. Worst drawdown: KAT -9.3% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both KAT and VXUS?
KAT and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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 KAT and VXUS?
At least 13.8% of KAT's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 33 positions we hold weights for in KAT and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, KAT or VXUS?
KAT yields 0.45% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than KAT?
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.