ROUS vs VXUS
Hartford Multifactor US Equity ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ROUS or VXUS?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ROUS led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 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 | ROUS | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.19% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $744M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.31% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 325 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +15.63%Best | +12.21% |
| 1Y Return | +19.99%Best | +19.22% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.02% | +19.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.91%Best | +8.63% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 14.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -35.5%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,553Best | $15,127 |
| Fund Family | Hartford Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 25, 2015 | 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, 2015 to Sep 16, 2026 (11.6 years).
ROUS 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 11.6 years both funds cover.
ROUS vs VXUS Performance
Hartford Multifactor US Equity ETF (ROUS) is an ETF from Hartford Funds and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ROUS returned +19.99% while VXUS returned +19.22%. Year to date, ROUS is up 15.63% versus a gain of 12.21% for VXUS.
Over three years, ROUS compounded at +19.02% per year against +19.10% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +11.91% and +8.63% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, ROUS has the edge at +9.74% annualized vs +6.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 14.6% for ROUS. 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 -35.5% for ROUS 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ROUS charges 0.19% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $19 vs $5 annually, a gap of $14 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ROUS currently yields 1.31% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.6% of ROUS'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.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 321 positions we hold weights for in ROUS and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 325 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ROUS 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, ROUS or VXUS?
ROUS has an expense ratio of 0.19% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $14 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ROUS or VXUS?
Over the past year ROUS returned +19.99% vs +19.22% for VXUS, so ROUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), ROUS annualized +9.74% vs +6.04% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ROUS or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 14.6% for ROUS. Worst drawdown: ROUS -35.5% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both ROUS and VXUS?
ROUS and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, ROUS or VXUS?
ROUS yields 1.31% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ROUS?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ROUS led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.