PSL vs VXUS
Invesco Dorsey Wright Consumer Staples Momentum ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, PSL or VXUS?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PSL 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 | PSL | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $84M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.73% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 50 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +7.71% | +12.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.28% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.29% | +20.14%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.79% | +8.87%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.7%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.9%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,636 | $15,295Best |
| Fund Family | Invesco (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 12, 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 23, 2026 (15.7 years).
PSL 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 15.7 years both funds cover.
PSL vs VXUS Performance
Invesco Dorsey Wright Consumer Staples Momentum ETF (PSL) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PSL returned -0.28% while VXUS returned +19.97%. Year to date, PSL is up 7.71% versus a gain of 12.88% for VXUS.
Over three years, PSL compounded at +9.29% per year against +20.14% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +4.79% and +8.87% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, PSL has the edge at +9.44% annualized vs +4.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 13.7% for PSL. 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 -34.9% for PSL 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PSL 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, PSL currently yields 0.73% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.1% of PSL'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.
PSL and VXUS share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 48 positions we hold weights for in PSL and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 50 and 8,747.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 48 and 8,082 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 35 positions PSL does not, 2.3% of the fund.
Largest: MKL 0.76%, SHEL 0.57%, VWO 0.11%, JD 0.09%, ALC 0.08%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in PSL | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| KRKroger Co. | 3.10% | 0.00% | 3.10% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PSL 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, PSL or VXUS?
PSL 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, PSL or VXUS?
Over the past year PSL returned -0.28% vs +19.97% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), PSL annualized +9.44% vs +4.72% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PSL or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 13.7% for PSL. Worst drawdown: PSL -34.9% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both PSL and VXUS?
PSL and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between PSL and VXUS?
At least 3.1% of PSL's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 48 positions we hold weights for in PSL and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, PSL or VXUS?
PSL yields 0.73% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than PSL?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PSL 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.