QLDY vs VXUS
Defiance Nasdaq 100 LightningSpread Income ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, QLDY or VXUS?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led 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 | QLDY | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.04% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $50M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 41.67% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 15 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +12.16% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.88% | +22.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.6% | 14.2%Best |
| Fund Family | Defiance ETFs, LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 17, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.
QLDY 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.
QLDY vs VXUS Performance
Defiance Nasdaq 100 LightningSpread Income ETF (QLDY) is an ETF from Defiance ETFs, LLC and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QLDY returned +14.88% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, QLDY is up 12.16% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QLDY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.6% compared with 14.2% for VXUS. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QLDY charges 1.04% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $104 vs $5 annually, a gap of $99 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QLDY currently yields 41.67% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2 holdings in QLDY and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 5.5% and 87.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, QLDY as of Sep 1, 2026 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 2 positions we hold weights for in QLDY and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 15 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QLDY 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, QLDY or VXUS?
QLDY has an expense ratio of 1.04% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $99 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QLDY or VXUS?
Over the past year QLDY returned +14.88% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QLDY or VXUS?
QLDY has been the more volatile fund at 26.6% annualized versus 14.2% for VXUS.
Should I hold both QLDY and VXUS?
QLDY and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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, QLDY or VXUS?
QLDY yields 41.67% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so QLDY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than QLDY?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.