PRFZ vs VXUS
Invesco RAFI US 1500 Small-Mid ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, PRFZ or VXUS?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PRFZ led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y.
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 | PRFZ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.34% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $2.8B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.80% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 1,522 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +15.27%Best | +12.82% |
| 1Y Return | +15.44% | +19.86%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.62% | +19.33%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.52%Best | +9.46% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.3% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.7% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,757Best | $15,714 |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 20, 2006 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 18, 2026 (15.6 years).
PRFZ 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
PRFZ vs VXUS Performance
Invesco RAFI US 1500 Small-Mid ETF (PRFZ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PRFZ returned +15.44% while VXUS returned +19.86%. Year to date, PRFZ is up 15.27% versus a gain of 12.82% for VXUS.
Over three years, PRFZ compounded at +17.62% per year against +19.33% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.52% and +9.46% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, PRFZ has the edge at +9.95% annualized vs +4.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
PRFZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.3% compared with 15.0% 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 -45.7% for PRFZ 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PRFZ charges 0.34% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $34 vs $5 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PRFZ currently yields 0.80% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,291 holdings in PRFZ and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 94.5% and 88.8% 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.
11 positions in common, counted across the 1,291 positions we hold weights for in PRFZ and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 1,522 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PRFZ | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BILLBill.Com Holdings, Inc. Common Stock | 0.23% | 0.00% | 0.23% |
| CCCSCcc Intelligent Solutions Hold | 0.22% | 0.01% | 0.21% |
| SMGScotts Miracle-Gro Company | 0.20% | 0.00% | 0.20% |
| FBKFb Financial Corp | 0.09% | 0.04% | 0.05% |
| CASHMeta Financial Group Inc | 0.06% | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| SCLStepan Co | 0.05% | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| FPH:NZFive Point Holdings, Llc Class A Common Shares | 0.00% | 0.03% | 0.03% |
| CLWClearwater Paper Corp | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| 601318:SHPing An Insu Ran Ce Group Co. Of C Hin A Ltd. | 0.00% | 0.01% | 0.01% |
| ALVO:LUAlvotech Sa | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PRFZ 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, PRFZ or VXUS?
PRFZ has an expense ratio of 0.34% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PRFZ or VXUS?
Over the past year PRFZ returned +15.44% vs +19.86% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), PRFZ annualized +9.95% vs +4.72% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PRFZ or VXUS?
PRFZ has been the more volatile fund at 19.3% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: PRFZ -45.7% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both PRFZ and VXUS?
PRFZ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, PRFZ or VXUS?
PRFZ yields 0.80% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than PRFZ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PRFZ led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.