TRFM vs VXUS
AAM Transformers ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, TRFM or VXUS?
TRFM has been ahead.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. TRFM 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 | TRFM | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $264M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.14% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 313 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +19.52%Best | +13.64% |
| 1Y Return | +21.56%Best | +20.82% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.85%Best | +19.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.9% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.4% | -16.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.2 years | $24,690Best | $19,455 |
| Fund Family | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 11, 2022 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 12, 2022 to Sep 17, 2026 (4.2 years).
TRFM 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 4.2 years both funds cover.
TRFM vs VXUS Performance
AAM Transformers ETF (TRFM) is an ETF from Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TRFM returned +21.56% while VXUS returned +20.82%. Year to date, TRFM is up 19.52% versus a gain of 13.64% for VXUS.
Over three years, TRFM compounded at +27.85% per year against +19.58% for VXUS. Across the full 4-year window we track, TRFM has the edge at +24.01% annualized vs +17.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TRFM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.9% compared with 14.9% 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 -28.4% for TRFM and -16.2% 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
TRFM charges 0.49% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $5 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TRFM currently yields 0.14% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 7.0% of TRFM's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 88.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
TRFM and VXUS share little of their money.
29 positions in common, counted across the 309 positions we hold weights for in TRFM and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 313 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in TRFM | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAP:FFSap Se, Sponsored Adr | 0.36% | 0.42% | 0.06% |
| SHOP:CAShopify Inc | 0.39% | 0.32% | 0.07% |
| SAF:PASafran Sa | 0.34% | 0.30% | 0.04% |
| 8035:JPTokyo Electron Ltd | 0.27% | 0.33% | 0.06% |
| PDD:IEPdd Holdings Inc. | 0.30% | 0.15% | 0.15% |
| ADYEN:ASAdyen N.V. Unsponsored ADR (1 ADS : 0.01 Ordinary) | 0.36% | 0.06% | 0.30% |
| VWS:COVestas Wind Systems A/S | 0.26% | 0.06% | 0.20% |
| ASX:TWAse Technology Holding Co., Ltd. American Depositary Shares (Each Representing Two Common Shares) | 0.29% | 0.02% | 0.27% |
| 6146:JPDisco Corp. | 0.24% | 0.07% | 0.17% |
| ESLT:ILElbit Systems Ltd. | 0.25% | 0.05% | 0.20% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of TRFM 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, TRFM or VXUS?
TRFM has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TRFM or VXUS?
Over the past year TRFM returned +21.56% vs +20.82% for VXUS, so TRFM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), TRFM annualized +24.01% vs +17.17% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TRFM or VXUS?
TRFM has been the more volatile fund at 23.9% annualized versus 14.9% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: TRFM -28.4% vs VXUS -16.2%.
Should I hold both TRFM and VXUS?
TRFM 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.
What is the holdings overlap between TRFM and VXUS?
At least 7.0% of TRFM's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 29 positions in common, counted across the 309 positions we hold weights for in TRFM and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, TRFM or VXUS?
TRFM yields 0.14% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than TRFM?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. TRFM 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.