RA vs VXUS
Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, RA or VXUS?
Debt-oriented balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | RA | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.36% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $766M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.19% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 598 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +0.32% | +14.49%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.34% | +21.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.82% | +20.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.40% | +9.57%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -54.9% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,802 | $15,793Best |
| Fund Family | Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund, Inc. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Debt-oriented balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 2, 2016 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 5, 2016 to Sep 21, 2026 (9.8 years).
RA 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 9.8 years both funds cover.
RA vs VXUS Performance
Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc. (RA) is an ETF from Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund, Inc. and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RA returned -0.34% while VXUS returned +21.52%. Year to date, RA is up 0.32% versus a gain of 14.49% for VXUS.
Over three years, RA compounded at +10.82% per year against +20.55% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -0.40% and +9.57% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +8.64% annualized vs +0.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 15.1% 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 -54.9% for RA 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RA charges 2.36% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $236 vs $5 annually, a gap of $231 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RA currently yields 10.19% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 266 holdings in RA and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 79.3% and 88.8% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 36 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, RA as of Mar 31, 2026 and VXUS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
36 positions in common, counted across the 266 positions we hold weights for in RA and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 598 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RA | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENB:CAEnbridge Inc. | 1.20% | 0.27% | 0.93% |
| EMA:CAEmera Inc | 0.97% | 0.04% | 0.93% |
| NG:LNNational Grid Plc | 0.23% | 0.18% | 0.05% |
| IBE:MAIberdrola S.A. | 0.03% | 0.37% | 0.34% |
| TRP:CATc Energy Corp | 0.23% | 0.16% | 0.07% |
| AENA:MAAena Sme Sa | 0.23% | 0.05% | 0.18% |
| PNN:LNPennon Group Plc | 0.26% | 0.01% | 0.25% |
| SSE:LNSse Plc | 0.15% | 0.09% | 0.06% |
| GAPB:MXGrupo Aeroportuario Del Pacifico Sab De Cv | 0.21% | 0.02% | 0.19% |
| SRESempra Common Stock | 0.21% | 0.00% | 0.21% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RA 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, RA or VXUS?
RA has an expense ratio of 2.36% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $231 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RA or VXUS?
Over the past year RA returned -0.34% vs +21.52% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), RA annualized +0.26% vs +8.64% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RA or VXUS?
RA has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 15.1% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: RA -54.9% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both RA and VXUS?
RA and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, RA or VXUS?
RA yields 10.19% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so RA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than RA?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.