RDOG vs VXUS
ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, RDOG or VXUS?
Small Cap Value 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 | RDOG | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $11M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.14% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 44 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +16.22%Best | +16.15% |
| 1Y Return | +15.33% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.68% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.43% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.6% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -50.7% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,736 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 7, 2008 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (15.6 years).
RDOG 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.
RDOG vs VXUS Performance
ALPS REIT Dividend Dogs ETF (RDOG) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RDOG returned +15.33% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, RDOG is up 16.22% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, RDOG compounded at +10.68% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +1.43% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.93% annualized vs +3.00%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RDOG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.6% compared with 15.0% 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 -50.7% for RDOG 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
RDOG charges 0.35% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $5 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RDOG currently yields 6.14% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 43 holdings in RDOG and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 99.7% and 87.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in RDOG and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 44 and 8,747.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 43 and 8,094 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 50 positions RDOG does not, 2.1% of the fund.
Largest: SHEL 0.48%, BALN 3.4 04/15/30 14 0.16%, PRYMY 0.11%, VWO 0.11%, BASFY 0.11%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RDOG 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, RDOG or VXUS?
RDOG has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RDOG or VXUS?
Over the past year RDOG returned +15.33% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), RDOG annualized +3.00% vs +4.93% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RDOG or VXUS?
RDOG has been the more volatile fund at 18.6% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: RDOG -50.7% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both RDOG and VXUS?
RDOG 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, RDOG or VXUS?
RDOG yields 6.14% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so RDOG currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than RDOG?
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.