NFJ vs VXUS
Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, NFJ or VXUS?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. NFJ led over 1Y, VXUS over 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 | NFJ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.39% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 182 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +23.91%Best | +12.44% |
| 1Y Return | +27.81%Best | +20.21% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.54% | +19.97%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.69% | +8.99%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.6% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -59.2% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,169 | $15,379Best |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 28, 2005 | 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 24, 2026 (15.7 years).
NFJ 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 15.7 years both funds cover.
NFJ vs VXUS Performance
Virtus Dividend, Interest & Premium Strategy Fund (NFJ) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NFJ returned +27.81% while VXUS returned +20.21%. Year to date, NFJ is up 23.91% versus a gain of 12.44% for VXUS.
Over three years, NFJ compounded at +19.54% per year against +19.97% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +8.69% and +8.99% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.69% annualized vs +2.11%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NFJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.6% 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 -59.2% for NFJ 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NFJ charges 0.96% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $5 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NFJ currently yields 7.39% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 107 holdings in NFJ and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 86.5% 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 107 positions we hold weights for in NFJ and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 182 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NFJ 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, NFJ or VXUS?
NFJ has an expense ratio of 0.96% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NFJ or VXUS?
Over the past year NFJ returned +27.81% vs +20.21% for VXUS, so NFJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), NFJ annualized +2.11% vs +4.69% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NFJ or VXUS?
NFJ has been the more volatile fund at 16.6% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: NFJ -59.2% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both NFJ and VXUS?
NFJ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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, NFJ or VXUS?
NFJ yields 7.39% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so NFJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than NFJ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. NFJ led over 1Y, VXUS over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.