NIXT vs VXUS
Research Affiliates Deletions ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, NIXT or VXUS?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. NIXT led over 1Y, VXUS over 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 | NIXT | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.19% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $43M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.94% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 212 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +30.63%Best | +16.15% |
| 1Y Return | +33.97%Best | +27.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.09% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9% | 12.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -27.5% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $14,706 | $15,324Best |
| Fund Family | RAFI Indices | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 9, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 10, 2024 to Sep 4, 2026 (2 years).
NIXT 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 2 years both funds cover.
NIXT vs VXUS Performance
Research Affiliates Deletions ETF (NIXT) is an ETF from RAFI Indices and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NIXT returned +33.97% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, NIXT is up 30.63% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NIXT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 12.0% 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 -27.5% for NIXT 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 0.57. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NIXT charges 0.19% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $19 vs $5 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NIXT currently yields 0.94% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.6% of NIXT's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
NIXT and VXUS share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, NIXT as of Aug 19, 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.
3 positions in common, counted across the 209 positions we hold weights for in NIXT and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 212 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NIXT 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, NIXT or VXUS?
NIXT has an expense ratio of 0.19% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NIXT or VXUS?
Over the past year NIXT returned +33.97% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so NIXT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), NIXT annualized +21.27% vs +23.79% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NIXT or VXUS?
NIXT has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 12.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: NIXT -27.5% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both NIXT and VXUS?
NIXT and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.57, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between NIXT and VXUS?
At least 1.6% of NIXT's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 209 positions we hold weights for in NIXT and 8,092 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, NIXT or VXUS?
NIXT yields 0.94% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than NIXT?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. NIXT led over 1Y, VXUS over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.