RAAX vs VXUS
VanEck Real Assets ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, RAAX or VXUS?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. RAAX 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 | RAAX | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.95% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 113 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +17.48%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +27.45%Best | +22.44% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.80%Best | +19.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +14.18%Best | +8.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 15.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -36.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $19,407Best | $15,260 |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 9, 2018 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 10, 2018 to Sep 10, 2026 (8.4 years).
RAAX 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 8.4 years both funds cover.
RAAX vs VXUS Performance
VanEck Real Assets ETF (RAAX) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RAAX returned +27.45% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, RAAX is up 17.48% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Over three years, RAAX compounded at +19.80% per year against +19.44% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +14.18% and +8.82% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, RAAX has the edge at +9.34% annualized vs +7.12%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 14.6% for RAAX. 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 -33.9% for RAAX and -36.4% 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
RAAX charges 0.55% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $5 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RAAX currently yields 1.95% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 12.1% of RAAX'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.
RAAX and VXUS share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, RAAX 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.
32 positions in common, counted across the 115 positions we hold weights for in RAAX and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 113 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RAAX | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRP:CATc Energy Corp | 1.22% | 0.15% | 1.07% |
| ABBN:SMAbb Ltd.[Abbn] | 0.83% | 0.37% | 0.46% |
| SHELShell plc | 0.49% | 0.48% | 0.01% |
| ALA:CAAltagas Ltd Common Stock | 0.91% | 0.03% | 0.88% |
| IBDRYIberdrola Sa | 0.57% | 0.37% | 0.20% |
| SIE:SGSiemens Ag | 0.41% | 0.52% | 0.11% |
| KEY:CAKeyera Corp | 0.86% | 0.02% | 0.84% |
| ANGJ:ZAAnglogold Ashanti Plc | 0.57% | 0.08% | 0.49% |
| BHP:AUBhp Group Ltd Sedol 6144690 | 0.34% | 0.30% | 0.04% |
| ENR1.N:SGSIEMENS ENERGY AG | 0.31% | 0.32% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RAAX 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, RAAX or VXUS?
RAAX has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RAAX or VXUS?
Over the past year RAAX returned +27.45% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so RAAX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), RAAX annualized +9.34% vs +7.12% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RAAX or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 14.6% for RAAX. Worst drawdown: RAAX -33.9% vs VXUS -36.4%.
Should I hold both RAAX and VXUS?
RAAX 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 RAAX and VXUS?
At least 12.1% of RAAX's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 115 positions we hold weights for in RAAX and 8,091 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, RAAX or VXUS?
RAAX yields 1.95% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than RAAX?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. RAAX 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.