NCZ vs VXUS
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, NCZ or VXUS?
Convertibles against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. NCZ led over 3Y, VXUS over 1Y, 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 | NCZ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.44% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $305M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 8.91% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 220 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +14.75%Best | +12.82% |
| 1Y Return | +17.54% | +19.86%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.19%Best | +19.33% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.80% | +9.46%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.0% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -77.4% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,642 | $15,714Best |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 31, 2003 | 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 18, 2026 (15.6 years).
NCZ 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.
NCZ vs VXUS Performance
Virtus Convertible & Income Fund II (NCZ) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NCZ returned +17.54% while VXUS returned +19.86%. Year to date, NCZ is up 14.75% versus a gain of 12.82% for VXUS.
Over three years, NCZ compounded at +23.19% per year against +19.33% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +4.80% and +9.46% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.72% annualized vs -2.05%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NCZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% 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 -77.4% for NCZ 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NCZ charges 1.44% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $144 vs $5 annually, a gap of $139 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NCZ currently yields 8.91% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 98 holdings in NCZ and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 62.2% 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, 3 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 154 days apart, NCZ as of Feb 27, 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in NCZ and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 220 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NCZ 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, NCZ or VXUS?
NCZ has an expense ratio of 1.44% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $139 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NCZ or VXUS?
Over the past year NCZ returned +17.54% vs +19.86% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), NCZ annualized -2.05% vs +4.72% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NCZ or VXUS?
NCZ has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: NCZ -77.4% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both NCZ and VXUS?
NCZ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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, NCZ or VXUS?
NCZ yields 8.91% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so NCZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than NCZ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. NCZ led over 3Y, VXUS over 1Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.