PALC vs VXUS
Pacer Lunt Large Cap Multi-Factor Alternator ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, PALC or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PALC led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y.
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 | PALC | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $211M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 184 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +6.83% | +13.64%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.65% | +20.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.39% | +19.58%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.36% | +9.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.2% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.4%Best | -29.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,940 | $15,485Best |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2020 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 25, 2020 to Sep 17, 2026 (6.2 years).
PALC 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 6.2 years both funds cover.
PALC vs VXUS Performance
Pacer Lunt Large Cap Multi-Factor Alternator ETF (PALC) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PALC returned +9.65% while VXUS returned +20.82%. Year to date, PALC is up 6.83% versus a gain of 13.64% for VXUS.
Over three years, PALC compounded at +14.39% per year against +19.58% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +8.36% and +9.14% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, PALC has the edge at +15.08% annualized vs +12.34%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PALC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.2% compared with 14.8% 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 -24.4% for PALC and -29.4% 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PALC charges 0.60% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $5 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PALC currently yields 1.06% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of PALC's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 88.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 183 positions we hold weights for in PALC and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 184 and 8,747.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 183 and 8,082 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 34 positions PALC does not, 2.3% of the fund.
Largest: MKL 0.76%, SHEL 0.57%, VWO 0.11%, JD 0.09%, ALC 0.08%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PALC 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, PALC or VXUS?
PALC has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PALC or VXUS?
Over the past year PALC returned +9.65% vs +20.82% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), PALC annualized +15.08% vs +12.34% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PALC or VXUS?
PALC has been the more volatile fund at 17.2% annualized versus 14.8% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: PALC -24.4% vs VXUS -29.4%.
Should I hold both PALC and VXUS?
PALC and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, PALC or VXUS?
PALC yields 1.06% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than PALC?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PALC led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.