NTRL vs VXUS
First Trust Equity Market Neutral ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, NTRL or VXUS?
Market Neutral Strategy against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y 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 | NTRL | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $16M | $164.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.88% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 24 | 8,844 |
| Volatility (annualized) | - | 12.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -25.2% | -11.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $8,467 | $11,813Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Market Neutral Strategy | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 4, 2020 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
The two price series end 699 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. NTRL has data through Nov 1, 2024 and VXUS through Oct 1, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 25, 2023 to Nov 1, 2024 (1.4 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -25.2% for NTRL and -11.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NTRL charges 0.95% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $5 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NTRL currently yields 2.88% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 507 holdings in NTRL and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 185.9% and 89.3% 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, 11 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 47 days apart, NTRL as of Sep 16, 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.
11 positions in common, counted across the 507 positions we hold weights for in NTRL and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 24 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NTRL | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMGScotts Miracle-Gro Company | 1.11% | 0.00% | 1.11% |
| KGC:CAKinross Gold Corp | 0.36% | 0.06% | 0.30% |
| QFIN:SHQfin Holdings, Inc. Sponsored ADR (1 ADS : 2 Ordinary) | 0.15% | 0.00% | 0.15% |
| CP:CACanadian Pac Kans City Ltd Npv | -0.18% | 0.18% | 0.36% |
| PONYPony Ai Inc | -0.04% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| ING:AUInghams Group Ltd | -0.24% | 0.00% | 0.24% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | -0.34% | 0.00% | 0.34% |
| BILLBill.Com Holdings, Inc. Common Stock | -0.60% | 0.00% | 0.60% |
| CCCSCcc Intelligent Solutions Hold | -0.74% | 0.01% | 0.75% |
| HALHalliburton Co. | -0.81% | 0.02% | 0.83% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NTRL 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, NTRL or VXUS?
NTRL has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which pays a higher dividend, NTRL or VXUS?
NTRL yields 2.88% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so NTRL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than NTRL?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.