RAA vs VXUS
SMI 3Fourteen REAL Asset Allocation ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, RAA or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. RAA led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 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 | RAA | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.85% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $616M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.06% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 185 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +9.65% | +12.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.45% | +19.71%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.37% | +19.25%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.37%Best | +8.59% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.6%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -11.8%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,569Best | $15,099 |
| Fund Family | 3FourteenSMI | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 26, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 26, 2025 to Sep 15, 2026 (15.6 years).
RAA 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
RAA vs VXUS Performance
SMI 3Fourteen REAL Asset Allocation ETF (RAA) is an ETF from 3FourteenSMI and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RAA returned +13.45% while VXUS returned +19.71%. Year to date, RAA is up 9.65% versus a gain of 12.57% for VXUS.
Over three years, RAA compounded at +14.37% per year against +19.25% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +14.37% and +8.59% respectively. Across the full 2-year window we track, RAA has the edge at +14.37% annualized vs +4.71%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 9.6% for RAA. 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 -11.8% for RAA 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 0.12. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RAA charges 0.85% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $85 vs $5 annually, a gap of $80 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RAA currently yields 2.06% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.9% of RAA'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.
RAA and VXUS share little of their money.
12 positions in common, counted across the 180 positions we hold weights for in RAA and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 185 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RAA | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML:ASASML HOLDING NV | 0.10% | 1.42% | 1.32% |
| BHP:AUBhp Group Ltd | 0.72% | 0.31% | 0.41% |
| CNQ:CACanadian Natural Resources Ltd | 0.51% | 0.22% | 0.29% |
| SU:CASuncor Energy Inc | 0.48% | 0.18% | 0.30% |
| AEM:CAAgnico Eagle Mines Ltd | 0.31% | 0.17% | 0.14% |
| SHOP:CAShopify Inc | 0.13% | 0.32% | 0.19% |
| WPM:CAWheaton Precious Metals Corp | 0.21% | 0.11% | 0.10% |
| ABX:CABarrick Gold Corp ., January 2025, $23 .50 Cad | 0.23% | 0.08% | 0.15% |
| FNV:CAFranco-Nevada Corp | 0.15% | 0.09% | 0.06% |
| PDD:IEPdd Holdings Inc. | 0.04% | 0.15% | 0.11% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RAA 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, RAA or VXUS?
RAA has an expense ratio of 0.85% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $80 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RAA or VXUS?
Over the past year RAA returned +13.45% vs +19.71% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), RAA annualized +14.37% vs +4.71% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RAA or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 9.6% for RAA. Worst drawdown: RAA -11.8% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both RAA and VXUS?
RAA and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.12, 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 RAA and VXUS?
At least 2.9% of RAA's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 12 positions in common, counted across the 180 positions we hold weights for in RAA and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, RAA or VXUS?
RAA yields 2.06% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than RAA?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. RAA led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.