MEDX vs VXUS
Horizon Kinetics Medical ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, MEDX or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. MEDX led over 1Y, VXUS over 3Y 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 | MEDX | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $17M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.17% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 34 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +11.73% | +15.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +28.55%Best | +27.46% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.02% | +20.30%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.96% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.2% | 12.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.6% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.6 years | $13,210 | $17,415Best |
| Fund Family | Horizon Kinetics LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 27, 2023 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 31, 2023 to Sep 3, 2026 (3.6 years).
MEDX 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 3.6 years both funds cover.
MEDX vs VXUS Performance
Horizon Kinetics Medical ETF (MEDX) is an ETF from Horizon Kinetics LLC and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MEDX returned +28.55% while VXUS returned +27.46%. Year to date, MEDX is up 11.73% versus a gain of 15.57% for VXUS.
Over three years, MEDX compounded at +11.02% per year against +20.30% for VXUS. Across the full 4-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +16.66% annualized vs +8.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
MEDX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.2% compared with 12.2% 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 -21.6% for MEDX and -13.6% 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MEDX 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, MEDX currently yields 1.17% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 31 holdings in MEDX and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 91.9% 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, 2 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, MEDX 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 31 positions we hold weights for in MEDX and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 34 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MEDX 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, MEDX or VXUS?
MEDX 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, MEDX or VXUS?
Over the past year MEDX returned +28.55% vs +27.46% for VXUS, so MEDX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), MEDX annualized +8.04% vs +16.66% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MEDX or VXUS?
MEDX has been the more volatile fund at 14.2% annualized versus 12.2% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: MEDX -21.6% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both MEDX and VXUS?
MEDX and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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, MEDX or VXUS?
MEDX yields 1.17% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than MEDX?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. MEDX led over 1Y, VXUS over 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.