SFLR vs VXUS
Innovator Equity Managed Floor ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SFLR or VXUS?
VXUS has been ahead.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | SFLR | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.89% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $2.1B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.28% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 392 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +4.70% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.15% | +22.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.82% | +19.44%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.4%Best | 12.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -12.1%Best | -13.6% |
| $10,000 over 3.8 years | $17,428 | $19,773Best |
| Fund Family | Innovator ETFs Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 8, 2022 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 9, 2022 to Sep 10, 2026 (3.8 years).
SFLR 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 3.8 years both funds cover.
SFLR vs VXUS Performance
Innovator Equity Managed Floor ETF (SFLR) is an ETF from Innovator ETFs Trust and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SFLR returned +9.15% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, SFLR is up 4.70% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Over three years, SFLR compounded at +13.82% per year against +19.44% for VXUS. Across the full 4-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +19.65% annualized vs +15.74%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.7% compared with 9.4% for SFLR. 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 -12.1% for SFLR 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SFLR 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, SFLR currently yields 0.28% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of SFLR's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% 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.
The two holdings books were reported 66 days apart, SFLR as of Sep 4, 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 183 positions we hold weights for in SFLR and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 392 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SFLR 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, SFLR or VXUS?
SFLR 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, SFLR or VXUS?
Over the past year SFLR returned +9.15% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SFLR annualized +15.74% vs +19.65% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SFLR or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 12.7% annualized versus 9.4% for SFLR. Worst drawdown: SFLR -12.1% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both SFLR and VXUS?
SFLR and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, SFLR or VXUS?
SFLR yields 0.28% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SFLR?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.