TAX vs VXUS
Cambria Tax Aware ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, TAX 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 | TAX | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.54% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $25M | $164.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.32% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 200 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +7.92% | +12.92%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.96% | +17.64%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.95% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.75% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.8% | 11.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.9% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $12,772 | $15,200Best |
| Fund Family | Cambria Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 18, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 18, 2024 to Oct 6, 2026 (1.8 years).
TAX 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
TAX vs VXUS Performance
Cambria Tax Aware ETF (TAX) is an ETF from Cambria Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TAX returned +10.96% while VXUS returned +17.64%. Year to date, TAX is up 7.92% versus a gain of 12.92% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.8% compared with 11.4% 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 -18.9% for TAX 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
TAX charges 0.54% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $54 vs $5 annually, a gap of $49 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TAX currently yields 0.32% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of TAX's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 89.3% 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 98 positions we hold weights for in TAX and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 200 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in TAX | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLMarkel Group Inc | 0.85% | 0.76% | 0.09% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TAX 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, TAX or VXUS?
TAX has an expense ratio of 0.54% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $49 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TAX or VXUS?
Over the past year TAX returned +10.96% vs +17.64% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), TAX annualized +14.56% vs +26.19% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TAX or VXUS?
TAX has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 11.4% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: TAX -18.9% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both TAX and VXUS?
TAX 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, TAX or VXUS?
TAX yields 0.32% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than TAX?
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.