PMTL vs VXUS

PMTL vs VXUS

Which is better, PMTL or VXUS?

Precious Metals against Large Cap Blend.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio.

Lower Fees: VXUS

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

MetricPMTLVXUS
Expense Ratio0.65%0.05%Best
AUM$2M$163.2B
Dividend Yield0.00%2.38%
Holdings1569,293
YTD Return+13.52%Best+8.79%
1Y Return-+12.87%
3Y Return (annualized)-+18.94%
5Y Return (annualized)-+8.11%
Fund FamilyFirst Trust Portfolios (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryCommodityEquity
StylePrecious MetalsLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJul 22, 2026Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

PMTL 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.

PMTL vs VXUS Performance

First Trust Indxx Quality Precious Metals Miners ETF (PMTL) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, PMTL is up 13.52% versus a gain of 8.79% for VXUS.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Fees and Cost Over Time

PMTL charges 0.65% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $5 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PMTL currently yields 0.00% against 2.38% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

PMTL already in VXUS65.7%

At least 65.7% of PMTL's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.

Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 89.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

The two portfolios partly overlap.

49 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in PMTL and 8,463 in VXUS, against full books of 156 and 9,293.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in PMTLWeight in VXUSDifference
AEM:CAAgnico Eagle Mines Ltd5.69%0.21%5.48%
WPM:CAWheaton Precious Metals Corp4.07%0.14%3.93%
ABX:CABarrick Gold Corp ., January 2025, $23 .50 Cad4.09%0.09%4.00%
FNV:CAFranco-Nevada Corp3.23%0.10%3.13%
AULogold Ashanti Limited3.20%0.09%3.11%
LUG:CALundin Gold, Inc.2.21%0.01%2.20%
FRES:LNFresnillo Plc2.17%0.01%2.16%
DPM:CADpm Metals Inc1.82%0.02%1.80%
CMM:AUCapricorn Metals Ltd.1.77%0.01%1.76%
NST:AUNorthern Star Resources Ltd. Shs1.70%0.05%1.65%

65.7% of PMTL is already inside VXUS.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

PMTLVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, PMTL or VXUS?

PMTL has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.

What is the holdings overlap between PMTL and VXUS?

At least 65.7% of PMTL's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 49 positions in common, counted across the 74 positions we hold weights for in PMTL and 8,463 in VXUS.

Which pays a higher dividend, PMTL or VXUS?

PMTL yields 0.00% while VXUS yields 2.38%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than PMTL?

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.