QQH vs VXUS
HCM Defender 100 Index ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, QQH or VXUS?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. QQH 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 | QQH | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.98% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $742M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.19% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 100 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +7.89% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.40% | +22.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.19%Best | +19.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.89%Best | +8.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.6% | 16.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -41.9% | -35.1%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,025Best | $15,260 |
| Fund Family | Howard Capital Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 9, 2019 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 10, 2019 to Sep 10, 2026 (6.9 years).
QQH 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 6.9 years both funds cover.
QQH vs VXUS Performance
HCM Defender 100 Index ETF (QQH) is an ETF from Howard Capital Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QQH returned +14.40% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, QQH is up 7.89% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Over three years, QQH compounded at +20.19% per year against +19.44% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.89% and +8.82% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, QQH has the edge at +18.97% annualized vs +10.44%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QQH has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.6% compared with 16.3% 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 -41.9% for QQH 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 0.62. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QQH charges 0.98% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $98 vs $5 annually, a gap of $93 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QQH currently yields 0.19% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.3% of QQH's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 64 days apart, QQH as of Sep 2, 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 97 positions we hold weights for in QQH and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 100 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QQH 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, QQH or VXUS?
QQH has an expense ratio of 0.98% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $93 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QQH or VXUS?
Over the past year QQH returned +14.40% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), QQH annualized +18.97% vs +10.44% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QQH or VXUS?
QQH has been the more volatile fund at 22.6% annualized versus 16.3% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: QQH -41.9% vs VXUS -35.1%.
Should I hold both QQH and VXUS?
QQH and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.62, 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, QQH or VXUS?
QQH yields 0.19% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than QQH?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. QQH 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.