RFLR vs VXUS
Innovator US Small Cap Managed Floor ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, RFLR or VXUS?
VXUS has been ahead.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y 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 | RFLR | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $95M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.59% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 841 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +12.33% | +14.48%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.02% | +22.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.00% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.91% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.2%Best | 12.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -15.5% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 2 years | $12,939 | $14,789Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 17, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 17, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (2 years).
RFLR 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 2 years both funds cover.
RFLR vs VXUS Performance
Innovator US Small Cap Managed Floor ETF (RFLR) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RFLR returned +17.02% while VXUS returned +22.28%. Year to date, RFLR is up 12.33% versus a gain of 14.48% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.0% compared with 11.2% for RFLR. 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 -15.5% for RFLR and -13.6% 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 0.44. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RFLR charges 0.89% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $89 vs $5 annually, a gap of $84 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RFLR currently yields 0.59% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 770 holdings in RFLR and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 90.3% and 87.7% 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, 10 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, RFLR 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.
10 positions in common, counted across the 770 positions we hold weights for in RFLR and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 841 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RFLR | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI:PAL Air Liquide S.a. | 0.20% | 0.01% | 0.19% |
| BILLBill.Com Holdings, Inc. Common Stock | 0.19% | 0.00% | 0.19% |
| CCCSCCC Intelligent Solutions Holdings Inc | 0.17% | 0.01% | 0.16% |
| SCLStepan Co | 0.15% | 0.00% | 0.15% |
| EFR:CAEnergy Fuels Inc/Canada | 0.13% | 0.01% | 0.12% |
| SIG:AUSigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd | 0.12% | 0.02% | 0.10% |
| MTX:SGMinerals Technologies Inc | 0.08% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| SMGScotts Miracle-Gro Company | 0.09% | 0.00% | 0.09% |
| PPTA:CAPerpetua Resources Corp | 0.08% | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| CASHMeta Financial Group Inc | 0.04% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RFLR 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, RFLR or VXUS?
RFLR has an expense ratio of 0.89% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $84 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RFLR or VXUS?
Over the past year RFLR returned +17.02% vs +22.28% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), RFLR annualized +13.75% vs +21.61% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RFLR or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 11.2% for RFLR. Worst drawdown: RFLR -15.5% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both RFLR and VXUS?
RFLR and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.44, 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, RFLR or VXUS?
RFLR yields 0.59% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than RFLR?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.