RSBA vs VXUS
Return Stacked Bonds & Merger Arbitrage ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, RSBA 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 | RSBA | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.01% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $52M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.88% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 16 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -1.85% | +15.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.57% | +27.46%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.96% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.8%Best | 11.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.3%Best | -13.6% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $10,215 | $15,517Best |
| Fund Family | Return Stacked ETF | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 17, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 18, 2024 to Sep 3, 2026 (1.7 years).
RSBA 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
RSBA vs VXUS Performance
Return Stacked Bonds & Merger Arbitrage ETF (RSBA) is an ETF from Return Stacked ETF and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RSBA returned -3.57% while VXUS returned +27.46%. Year to date, RSBA is down 1.85% versus a gain of 15.57% 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 11.2% compared with 4.8% for RSBA. 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 -6.3% for RSBA 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 0.30. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RSBA charges 1.01% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $101 vs $5 annually, a gap of $96 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RSBA currently yields 2.88% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 11 holdings in RSBA and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 90.4% 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, 1 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, RSBA as of Aug 19, 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 11 positions we hold weights for in RSBA and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 16 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RSBA | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAN:MABanco Santander S.a. | -4.65% | 0.45% | 5.10% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RSBA 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, RSBA or VXUS?
RSBA has an expense ratio of 1.01% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $96 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RSBA or VXUS?
Over the past year RSBA returned -3.57% vs +27.46% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), RSBA annualized +1.26% vs +29.49% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RSBA or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 11.2% annualized versus 4.8% for RSBA. Worst drawdown: RSBA -6.3% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both RSBA and VXUS?
RSBA and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.30, 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, RSBA or VXUS?
RSBA yields 2.88% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so RSBA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than RSBA?
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.