TAXS vs VXUS
Northern Trust Short Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, TAXS or VXUS?
Short Term Municipal Bond against Large Cap Blend.
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 | TAXS | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05%Tie | 0.05%Tie |
| AUM | $145M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.25% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 1,734 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +0.56% | +14.48%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.26% | +22.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.00% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.91% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.6%Best | 13.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -0.8%Best | -11.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,194 | $12,666Best |
| Fund Family | Northern Trust Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Municipal Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 1, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 19, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.1 years).
TAXS 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.
TAXS vs VXUS Performance
Northern Trust Short Term Tax-Exempt Bond ETF (TAXS) is an ETF from Northern Trust Asset Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TAXS returned +1.26% while VXUS returned +22.28%. Year to date, TAXS is up 0.56% versus a gain of 14.48% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.5% compared with 1.6% for TAXS. 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 -0.8% for TAXS 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TAXS charges 0.05% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $5 annually. On income, TAXS currently yields 2.25% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 468 holdings in TAXS and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 22.4% and 87.7% 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 468 positions we hold weights for in TAXS and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 1,734 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TAXS 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, TAXS or VXUS?
TAXS has an expense ratio of 0.05% while VXUS charges 0.05%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, TAXS or VXUS?
Over the past year TAXS returned +1.26% vs +22.28% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), TAXS annualized +1.76% vs +23.97% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TAXS or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 13.5% annualized versus 1.6% for TAXS. Worst drawdown: TAXS -0.8% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both TAXS and VXUS?
TAXS and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, 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, TAXS or VXUS?
TAXS yields 2.25% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than TAXS?
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.