KF vs VXUS
The Korea Fund, Inc. vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, KF or VXUS?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
KF 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 | KF | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | - | 0.05% |
| AUM | $298M | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.76% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 56 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +51.32%Best | +10.00% |
| 1Y Return | +93.04%Best | +17.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +44.11%Best | +19.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.88%Best | +8.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 28.9% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.0% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $22,761Best | $15,071 |
| Fund Family | The Korea Fund, Inc. (KF) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 29, 1984 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Oct 14, 2026 (15.7 years).
KF 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 15.7 years both funds cover.
KF vs VXUS Performance
The Korea Fund, Inc. (KF) is an ETF from The Korea Fund, Inc. (KF) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year KF returned +93.04% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, KF is up 51.32% versus a gain of 10.00% for VXUS.
Over three years, KF compounded at +44.11% per year against +19.55% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +17.88% and +8.55% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, KF has the edge at +8.89% annualized vs +4.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
KF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.9% compared with 15.0% 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 -53.0% for KF 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Holdings Overlap
At least 90.6% of KF's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 91.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
Most of KF is already inside VXUS. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 62 days apart, KF as of Jun 30, 2026 and VXUS as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
44 positions in common, counted across the 53 positions we hold weights for in KF and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 56 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in KF | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 27.52% | 1.46% | 26.06% |
| 005930:KRSamsung Electronics Co Ltd | 20.32% | 1.90% | 18.42% |
| 402340:KRSk Square | 4.38% | 0.15% | 4.23% |
| 009150:KRSamsung Electro-Mechanics Co Ltd | 4.26% | 0.13% | 4.13% |
| 005935:KRSamsung Electronics Pref 0.9 | 2.47% | 0.24% | 2.23% |
| 105560:KRKb Financial Group, Inc. | 2.37% | 0.09% | 2.28% |
| 034730:KRSk Inc | 2.18% | 0.03% | 2.15% |
| 055550:KRShinhan Financial Group Co Ltd | 1.89% | 0.07% | 1.82% |
| 028260:KRSamsung C&T Corp | 1.86% | 0.05% | 1.81% |
| 329180:KRHyundai Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. | 1.56% | 0.02% | 1.54% |
90.6% of KF 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.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which performed better, KF or VXUS?
Over the past year KF returned +93.04% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so KF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), KF annualized +8.89% vs +4.53% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, KF or VXUS?
KF has been the more volatile fund at 28.9% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: KF -53.0% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both KF and VXUS?
KF and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 KF and VXUS?
At least 90.6% of KF's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 44 positions in common, counted across the 53 positions we hold weights for in KF and 8,425 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, KF or VXUS?
KF yields 1.76% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than KF?
KF 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.