QLC vs VXUS
Northern Trust US Quality Large Cap ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, QLC or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. QLC led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y.
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 | QLC | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.91% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 181 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +12.96% | +13.64%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.72% | +20.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.95%Best | +19.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.54%Best | +9.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.4% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.9%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,715Best | $15,485 |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 23, 2015 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 24, 2015 to Sep 17, 2026 (11 years).
QLC 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 11 years both funds cover.
QLC vs VXUS Performance
Northern Trust US Quality Large Cap ETF (QLC) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QLC returned +19.72% while VXUS returned +20.82%. Year to date, QLC is up 12.96% versus a gain of 13.64% for VXUS.
Over three years, QLC compounded at +23.95% per year against +19.58% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +14.54% and +9.14% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, QLC has the edge at +14.20% annualized vs +7.95%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QLC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.4% compared with 14.8% 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 -35.9% for QLC 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QLC charges 0.25% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $5 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QLC currently yields 0.91% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of QLC'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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 157 positions we hold weights for in QLC and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 181 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QLC 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, QLC or VXUS?
QLC has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QLC or VXUS?
Over the past year QLC returned +19.72% vs +20.82% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), QLC annualized +14.20% vs +7.95% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QLC or VXUS?
QLC has been the more volatile fund at 16.4% annualized versus 14.8% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: QLC -35.9% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both QLC and VXUS?
QLC and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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, QLC or VXUS?
QLC yields 0.91% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than QLC?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. QLC led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.