PSEP vs VXUS
Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - September vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, PSEP or VXUS?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PSEP led over 5Y, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y 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 | PSEP | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.79% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $815M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 12 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +7.02% | +12.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.35% | +19.86%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.28% | +19.33%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.93%Best | +9.46% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.4%Best | 16.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -17.9%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,054Best | $15,714 |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 30, 2019 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 3, 2019 to Sep 18, 2026 (7 years).
PSEP 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 7 years both funds cover.
PSEP vs VXUS Performance
Innovator U.S. Equity Power Buffer ETF - September (PSEP) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PSEP returned +9.35% while VXUS returned +19.86%. Year to date, PSEP is up 7.02% versus a gain of 12.82% for VXUS.
Over three years, PSEP compounded at +12.28% per year against +19.33% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.93% and +9.46% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +10.46% annualized vs +9.56%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% compared with 8.4% for PSEP. 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 -17.9% for PSEP and -35.1% 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PSEP charges 0.79% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $79 vs $5 annually, a gap of $74 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PSEP currently yields 0.00% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of PSEP'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 491 positions we hold weights for in PSEP and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 12 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PSEP 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, PSEP or VXUS?
PSEP has an expense ratio of 0.79% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $74 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PSEP or VXUS?
Over the past year PSEP returned +9.35% vs +19.86% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), PSEP annualized +9.56% vs +10.46% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PSEP or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 8.4% for PSEP. Worst drawdown: PSEP -17.9% vs VXUS -35.1%.
Should I hold both PSEP and VXUS?
PSEP and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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, PSEP or VXUS?
PSEP yields 0.00% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than PSEP?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PSEP led over 5Y, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.