STEN vs VXUS

STEN vs VXUS

Which is better, STEN or VXUS?

VXUS has been ahead.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y.

Lower Fees: VXUSHigher Returns (1Y): VXUS

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

MetricSTENVXUS
Expense Ratio0.50%0.05%Best
AUM$37M$158.1B
Dividend Yield0.17%2.51%
Holdings88,747
YTD Return+10.78%+13.64%Best
1Y Return+12.75%+20.82%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+19.58%
5Y Return (annualized)-+9.14%
Fund FamilyiShares by BlackRock (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryAlternativeEquity
Style-Large Cap Blend
InceptionSep 30, 2025Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

STEN 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.

STEN vs VXUS Performance

iShares Large Cap 10% Target Buffer Sep ETF (STEN) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year STEN returned +12.75% while VXUS returned +20.82%. Year to date, STEN is up 10.78% versus a gain of 13.64% for VXUS.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Fees and Cost Over Time

STEN charges 0.50% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $5 annually, a gap of $45 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, STEN currently yields 0.17% against 2.51% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 2 holdings in STEN and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 100.3% and 88.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 2 positions we hold weights for in STEN and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 8 and 8,747.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of STEN and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

STENVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, STEN or VXUS?

STEN has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $45 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, STEN or VXUS?

Over the past year STEN returned +12.75% vs +20.82% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, STEN or VXUS?

STEN yields 0.17% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than STEN?

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.