ULTY vs VXUS
YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ULTY or VXUS?
Option Writing against Large Cap Blend.
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 | ULTY | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.30% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $733M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 135.06% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 102 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +7.76% | +12.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | -9.28% | +19.86%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.33% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.46% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.6% | 11.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -26.9% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.6 years | $10,818 | $15,874Best |
| Fund Family | YieldMax ETF | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Option Writing | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 28, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 29, 2024 to Sep 18, 2026 (2.6 years).
ULTY 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 2.6 years both funds cover.
ULTY vs VXUS Performance
YieldMax Ultra Option Income Strategy ETF (ULTY) is an ETF from YieldMax ETF and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ULTY returned -9.28% while VXUS returned +19.86%. Year to date, ULTY is up 7.76% versus a gain of 12.82% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ULTY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.6% compared with 11.3% 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 -26.9% for ULTY 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ULTY charges 1.30% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $130 vs $5 annually, a gap of $125 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ULTY currently yields 135.06% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.9% of ULTY'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.
ULTY and VXUS share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 28 positions we hold weights for in ULTY and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 102 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ULTY | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHOP:CAShopify Inc | 3.91% | 0.32% | 3.59% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ULTY 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, ULTY or VXUS?
ULTY has an expense ratio of 1.30% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $125 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ULTY or VXUS?
Over the past year ULTY returned -9.28% vs +19.86% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ULTY or VXUS?
ULTY has been the more volatile fund at 22.6% annualized versus 11.3% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: ULTY -26.9% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both ULTY and VXUS?
ULTY and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 ULTY and VXUS?
At least 3.9% of ULTY's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 28 positions we hold weights for in ULTY and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, ULTY or VXUS?
ULTY yields 135.06% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so ULTY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ULTY?
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.