TOTL vs VXUS
State Street DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, TOTL or VXUS?
Short Term Low Quality against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | TOTL | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.37% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 1,723 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -2.48% | +12.21%Best |
| 1Y Return | -1.82% | +19.22%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +4.04% | +19.10%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.06% | +8.63%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 4.5%Best | 14.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -18.0%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,970 | $15,127Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Short Term Low Quality | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 23, 2015 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 24, 2015 to Sep 16, 2026 (11.6 years).
TOTL 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 11.6 years both funds cover.
TOTL vs VXUS Performance
State Street DoubleLine Total Return Tactical ETF (TOTL) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TOTL returned -1.82% while VXUS returned +19.22%. Year to date, TOTL is down 2.48% versus a gain of 12.21% for VXUS.
Over three years, TOTL compounded at +4.04% per year against +19.10% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -0.06% and +8.63% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +6.04% annualized vs -0.18%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 4.5% for TOTL. 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 -18.0% for TOTL and -39.9% 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TOTL charges 0.55% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $5 annually, a gap of $50 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TOTL currently yields 5.37% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 926 holdings in TOTL and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 60.3% 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 926 positions we hold weights for in TOTL and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 1,723 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TOTL 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, TOTL or VXUS?
TOTL has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $50 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TOTL or VXUS?
Over the past year TOTL returned -1.82% vs +19.22% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), TOTL annualized -0.18% vs +6.04% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TOTL or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 4.5% for TOTL. Worst drawdown: TOTL -18.0% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both TOTL and VXUS?
TOTL and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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, TOTL or VXUS?
TOTL yields 5.37% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so TOTL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than TOTL?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.