PHDG vs VXUS
Invesco S&P 500 Downside Hedged ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, PHDG or VXUS?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 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 | PHDG | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $62M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.67% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 514 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +10.00% | +12.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.77% | +19.71%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.27% | +19.25%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.81% | +8.59%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.8%Best | 14.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -23.6%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,056 | $15,099Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 5, 2012 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 6, 2012 to Sep 15, 2026 (13.8 years).
PHDG 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 13.8 years both funds cover.
PHDG vs VXUS Performance
Invesco S&P 500 Downside Hedged ETF (PHDG) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PHDG returned +11.77% while VXUS returned +19.71%. Year to date, PHDG is up 10.00% versus a gain of 12.57% for VXUS.
Over three years, PHDG compounded at +10.27% per year against +19.25% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +3.81% and +8.59% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +5.91% annualized vs +4.21%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% compared with 9.8% for PHDG. 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 -23.6% for PHDG 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 0.48. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PHDG charges 0.39% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $5 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PHDG currently yields 1.67% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of PHDG'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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 486 positions we hold weights for in PHDG and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 514 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PHDG 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, PHDG or VXUS?
PHDG has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PHDG or VXUS?
Over the past year PHDG returned +11.77% vs +19.71% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), PHDG annualized +4.21% vs +5.91% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PHDG or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 9.8% for PHDG. Worst drawdown: PHDG -23.6% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both PHDG and VXUS?
PHDG and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.48, 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, PHDG or VXUS?
PHDG yields 1.67% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than PHDG?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.