MKTN vs VXUS

MKTN vs VXUS

Which is better, MKTN or VXUS?

Market Neutral Strategy against Large Cap Blend.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y.

Lower Fees: VXUSHigher Returns (1Y): VXUS

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

MetricMKTNVXUS
Expense Ratio1.94%0.05%Best
AUM$126M$158.1B
Dividend Yield0.48%2.59%
Holdings3878,747
YTD Return+8.87%+16.15%Best
1Y Return+11.99%+27.58%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+20.48%
5Y Return (annualized)-+9.09%
Volatility (annualized)5.8%Best13.8%
Fund FamilyFederated HermesVanguard (US)
CategoryAlternativeEquity
StyleMarket Neutral StrategyLarge Cap Blend
InceptionSep 24, 2025Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

MKTN 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.

MKTN vs VXUS Performance

Federated Hermes MDT Market Neutral ETF (MKTN) is an ETF from Federated Hermes and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year MKTN returned +11.99% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, MKTN is up 8.87% versus a gain of 16.15% 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 13.8% compared with 5.8% for MKTN. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at -0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

MKTN charges 1.94% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $194 vs $5 annually, a gap of $189 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, MKTN currently yields 0.48% against 2.59% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 404 holdings in MKTN and 8,092 in VXUS, totalling 94.8% and 87.5% 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, 6 positions appear in both.

The two holdings books were reported 57 days apart, MKTN as of Aug 26, 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.

6 positions in common, counted across the 404 positions we hold weights for in MKTN and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 387 and 8,747.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in MKTNWeight in VXUSDifference
UMG:ASUniversal Music Group N.V. Universal Music Group N V0.07%0.05%0.02%
HALHalliburton0.06%0.02%0.04%
LUNRIntuitive Machines Inc A0.06%0.00%0.06%
JHX:AUJames Hardie Industries Plc Sponsored Adr (1 Ads : 1 Ordinary)-0.03%0.03%0.06%
BEPC:CABrookfield Renewable Corporation Class A Subordinate Voting Shares-0.06%0.01%0.07%
BN:CABrookfield Asset Management, Ltd., Class A-0.52%0.04%0.56%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of MKTN and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

MKTNVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, MKTN or VXUS?

MKTN has an expense ratio of 1.94% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $189 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, MKTN or VXUS?

Over the past year MKTN returned +11.99% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, MKTN or VXUS?

VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 13.8% annualized versus 5.8% for MKTN.

Should I hold both MKTN and VXUS?

MKTN and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of -0.32, 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, MKTN or VXUS?

MKTN yields 0.48% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than MKTN?

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.