MFSB vs VXUS
MFS Active Core Plus Bond ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, MFSB or VXUS?
Investment Grade Bond against Large Cap Blend.
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 | MFSB | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.34% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $550M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.65% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 462 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -1.07% | +12.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.17% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.14% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.87% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.5%Best | 11.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.2%Best | -13.6% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $10,416 | $14,543Best |
| Fund Family | MFS Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Investment Grade Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 5, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 5, 2024 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.8 years).
MFSB 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
MFSB vs VXUS Performance
MFS Active Core Plus Bond ETF (MFSB) is an ETF from MFS Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MFSB returned -0.17% while VXUS returned +19.97%. Year to date, MFSB is down 1.07% versus a gain of 12.88% 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 11.5% compared with 3.5% for MFSB. 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 -3.2% for MFSB 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
MFSB charges 0.34% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $34 vs $5 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MFSB currently yields 4.65% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 182 holdings in MFSB and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 42.6% and 88.8% 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 182 positions we hold weights for in MFSB and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 462 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of MFSB 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, MFSB or VXUS?
MFSB has an expense ratio of 0.34% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, MFSB or VXUS?
Over the past year MFSB returned -0.17% vs +19.97% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), MFSB annualized +2.29% vs +23.13% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, MFSB or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 11.5% annualized versus 3.5% for MFSB. Worst drawdown: MFSB -3.2% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both MFSB and VXUS?
MFSB and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, MFSB or VXUS?
MFSB yields 4.65% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so MFSB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than MFSB?
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.