UPAR vs VXUS
UPAR Ultra Risk Parity ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, UPAR or VXUS?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92.
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 | UPAR | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.68% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $60M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.43% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 140 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +7.39% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +17.17% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +11.82% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.09% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.0% | -28.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 4.7 years | $9,652 | $15,866Best |
| Fund Family | Rpar ETF | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 3, 2022 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 4.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 4, 2022 to Sep 4, 2026 (4.7 years).
UPAR 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 4.7 years both funds cover.
UPAR vs VXUS Performance
UPAR Ultra Risk Parity ETF (UPAR) is an ETF from Rpar ETF and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year UPAR returned +17.17% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, UPAR is up 7.39% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, UPAR compounded at +11.82% per year against +20.48% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UPAR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 15.3% 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 -39.0% for UPAR and -28.4% 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
UPAR charges 0.68% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $68 vs $5 annually, a gap of $63 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, UPAR currently yields 3.43% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 129 holdings in UPAR and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 48.6% and 87.7% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 59 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 61 days apart, UPAR as of Apr 30, 2026 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
59 positions in common, counted across the 129 positions we hold weights for in UPAR and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 140 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in UPAR | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| VWOVanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index Fund;Etf | 5.33% | 0.11% | 5.22% |
| BHP:AUBhp Group Ltd - Adr | 1.22% | 0.30% | 0.92% |
| RIO:LNRio Tinto Plc Ordinary Shares | 1.03% | 0.22% | 0.81% |
| SHELShell Plc | 0.74% | 0.48% | 0.26% |
| CNQ:CACanadian Natural Resources Ltd | 0.31% | 0.18% | 0.13% |
| NTR:CANutrien Ltd | 0.34% | 0.07% | 0.27% |
| SU:CASuncor Energy Inc | 0.25% | 0.14% | 0.11% |
| CCO:CACameco Corporation Com Npv | 0.27% | 0.10% | 0.17% |
| EQNR:OSEquinor Asa Sponsored Adr - Sponsored (1 Ads : 1 Ordinary) | 0.30% | 0.05% | 0.25% |
| ANTO:LNAntofagasta Plc | 0.29% | 0.04% | 0.25% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of UPAR 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, UPAR or VXUS?
UPAR has an expense ratio of 0.68% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $63 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, UPAR or VXUS?
Over the past year UPAR returned +17.17% vs +27.58% 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, UPAR or VXUS?
UPAR has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 15.3% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: UPAR -39.0% vs VXUS -28.4%.
Should I hold both UPAR and VXUS?
UPAR and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, UPAR or VXUS?
UPAR yields 3.43% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so UPAR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than UPAR?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.