QVAL vs VXUS
Alpha Architect US Quantitative Value ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, QVAL or VXUS?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. QVAL led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 3Y.
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 | QVAL | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.28% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $708M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.35% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 52 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +22.15%Best | +14.94% |
| 1Y Return | +29.79%Best | +21.99% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.37% | +20.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.35%Best | +9.48% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -53.3% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,711Best | $15,728 |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 22, 2014 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2014 to Sep 22, 2026 (11.9 years).
QVAL 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 11.9 years both funds cover.
QVAL vs VXUS Performance
Alpha Architect US Quantitative Value ETF (QVAL) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QVAL returned +29.79% while VXUS returned +21.99%. Year to date, QVAL is up 22.15% versus a gain of 14.94% for VXUS.
Over three years, QVAL compounded at +19.37% per year against +20.89% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +13.35% and +9.48% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, QVAL has the edge at +8.52% annualized vs +6.46%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
QVAL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.1% 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 -53.3% for QVAL 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
QVAL charges 0.28% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $28 vs $5 annually, a gap of $23 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QVAL currently yields 1.35% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.9% of QVAL'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.
QVAL and VXUS share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in QVAL and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 52 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of QVAL 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, QVAL or VXUS?
QVAL has an expense ratio of 0.28% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $23 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, QVAL or VXUS?
Over the past year QVAL returned +29.79% vs +21.99% for VXUS, so QVAL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), QVAL annualized +8.52% vs +6.46% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, QVAL or VXUS?
QVAL has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 14.8% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: QVAL -53.3% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both QVAL and VXUS?
QVAL and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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 QVAL and VXUS?
At least 3.9% of QVAL's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 63 positions we hold weights for in QVAL and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, QVAL or VXUS?
QVAL yields 1.35% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than QVAL?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. QVAL led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.