RUSC vs VXUS
Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, RUSC or VXUS?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y.
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 | RUSC | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.64% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $81M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.32% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 490 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +21.07%Best | +15.71% |
| 1Y Return | +25.02% | +25.07%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 12.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.2%Best | -11.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $14,245Best | $13,829 |
| Fund Family | Russell Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 13, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 14, 2025 to Sep 8, 2026 (1.3 years).
RUSC 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
RUSC vs VXUS Performance
Russell Investments US Small Cap Equity ETF (RUSC) is an ETF from Russell Investments and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RUSC returned +25.02% while VXUS returned +25.07%. Year to date, RUSC is up 21.07% versus a gain of 15.71% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RUSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 12.5% 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 -9.2% for RUSC and -11.3% 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RUSC charges 0.64% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $64 vs $5 annually, a gap of $59 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RUSC currently yields 0.32% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.5% of RUSC's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
RUSC and VXUS share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 51 days apart, RUSC as of Aug 20, 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.
19 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 490 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RUSC | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFR:SMCompagnie Financiere Richemont SA | 0.19% | 0.27% | 0.08% |
| CNQ:CACanadian Natural Resources Ltd | 0.18% | 0.18% | 0.00% |
| CONG:FFContinental Ag | 0.32% | 0.02% | 0.30% |
| LIND:MBLinde India Ltd | 0.31% | 0.00% | 0.31% |
| NWL:AUNetwealth Group Ltd | 0.30% | 0.00% | 0.30% |
| PUBM:MYPublic Bank Bhd | 0.22% | 0.04% | 0.18% |
| FBK:MIFb Financial Corporation Common Stock | 0.22% | 0.03% | 0.19% |
| ACA:PACredit Agricole Sa | 0.20% | 0.04% | 0.16% |
| MCY:NZMercury Nz Ltd | 0.19% | 0.01% | 0.18% |
| CTOS:MYCtos Digital Bhd | 0.18% | 0.00% | 0.18% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of RUSC 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, RUSC or VXUS?
RUSC has an expense ratio of 0.64% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $59 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RUSC or VXUS?
Over the past year RUSC returned +25.02% vs +25.07% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RUSC annualized +31.28% vs +28.32% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RUSC or VXUS?
RUSC has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 12.5% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: RUSC -9.2% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both RUSC and VXUS?
RUSC and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 RUSC and VXUS?
At least 3.5% of RUSC's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 19 positions in common, counted across the 489 positions we hold weights for in RUSC and 8,092 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, RUSC or VXUS?
RUSC yields 0.32% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than RUSC?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. RUSC led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.