SEPQ vs VXUS
STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SEPQ or VXUS?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SEPQ led over 3Y and 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 | SEPQ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $86M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.33% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 100 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +20.36%Best | +14.49% |
| 1Y Return | +20.32% | +21.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.73%Best | +20.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.57% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.0% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.4% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.3 years | $18,486Best | $18,171 |
| Fund Family | Shelton Capital Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 18, 2022 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 19, 2022 to Sep 21, 2026 (4.3 years).
SEPQ 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 4.3 years both funds cover.
SEPQ vs VXUS Performance
STF Tactical Growth & Income ETF (SEPQ) is an ETF from Shelton Capital Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SEPQ returned +20.32% while VXUS returned +21.52%. Year to date, SEPQ is up 20.36% versus a gain of 14.49% for VXUS.
Over three years, SEPQ compounded at +23.73% per year against +20.55% for VXUS. Across the full 4-year window we track, SEPQ has the edge at +15.36% annualized vs +14.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SEPQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.0% compared with 15.3% 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 -23.4% for SEPQ and -19.3% 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SEPQ charges 0.65% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $5 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SEPQ currently yields 11.33% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.4% of SEPQ'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.
SEPQ and VXUS share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 97 positions we hold weights for in SEPQ and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 100 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SEPQ 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, SEPQ or VXUS?
SEPQ has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SEPQ or VXUS?
Over the past year SEPQ returned +20.32% vs +21.52% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SEPQ annualized +15.36% vs +14.90% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SEPQ or VXUS?
SEPQ has been the more volatile fund at 17.0% annualized versus 15.3% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SEPQ -23.4% vs VXUS -19.3%.
Should I hold both SEPQ and VXUS?
SEPQ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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 SEPQ and VXUS?
At least 1.4% of SEPQ's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 97 positions we hold weights for in SEPQ and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, SEPQ or VXUS?
SEPQ yields 11.33% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so SEPQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SEPQ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SEPQ led over 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.