NAC vs VXUS
Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, NAC or VXUS?
Municipal California against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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 | NAC | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.79% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | - | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.80% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 346 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -5.79% | +14.49%Best |
| 1Y Return | +0.30% | +21.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.01% | +20.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -2.12% | +9.57%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -38.7%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $8,984 | $15,793Best |
| Fund Family | Nuveen | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal California | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 26, 1999 | 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 Sep 21, 2026 (15.6 years).
NAC 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
NAC vs VXUS Performance
Nuveen California Quality Municipal Income Fund (NAC) is an ETF from Nuveen and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NAC returned +0.30% while VXUS returned +21.52%. Year to date, NAC is down 5.79% versus a gain of 14.49% for VXUS.
Over three years, NAC compounded at +9.01% per year against +20.55% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -2.12% and +9.57% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.82% annualized vs +1.32%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 11.8% for NAC. 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 -38.7% for NAC 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 0.39. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NAC charges 3.79% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $379 vs $5 annually, a gap of $374 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NAC currently yields 7.80% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2 holdings in NAC and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 0.4% and 88.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 61 days apart, NAC as of May 31, 2026 and VXUS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 2 positions we hold weights for in NAC and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 346 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NAC 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, NAC or VXUS?
NAC has an expense ratio of 3.79% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $374 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NAC or VXUS?
Over the past year NAC returned +0.30% vs +21.52% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), NAC annualized +1.32% vs +4.82% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NAC or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 11.8% for NAC. Worst drawdown: NAC -38.7% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both NAC and VXUS?
NAC and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.39, 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, NAC or VXUS?
NAC yields 7.80% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so NAC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than NAC?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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.