URNJ vs VXUS
Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, URNJ or VXUS?
Precious Metals against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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 | URNJ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $385M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.41% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 42 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -8.67% | +14.83%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.58% | +24.27%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.22% | +19.98%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.07% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 46.5% | 12.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.7% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.6 years | $15,174 | $17,153Best |
| Fund Family | Sprott ETFS | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Commodity | Equity |
| Style | Precious Metals | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2023 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 2, 2023 to Sep 9, 2026 (3.6 years).
URNJ 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 3.6 years both funds cover.
URNJ vs VXUS Performance
Sprott Junior Uranium Miners ETF (URNJ) is an ETF from Sprott ETFS and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year URNJ returned +9.58% while VXUS returned +24.27%. Year to date, URNJ is down 8.67% versus a gain of 14.83% for VXUS.
Over three years, URNJ compounded at +14.22% per year against +19.98% for VXUS. Across the full 4-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +16.17% annualized vs +12.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
URNJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 46.5% compared with 12.0% 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 -57.7% for URNJ 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 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
URNJ charges 0.80% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $5 annually, a gap of $75 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, URNJ currently yields 6.41% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 61.0% of URNJ's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
8 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in URNJ and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 42 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in URNJ | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| DML:CADenison Mines Corp | 13.05% | 0.01% | 13.04% |
| NXE:CANexgen Energy Ltd | 11.91% | 0.01% | 11.90% |
| PDN:AUPaladin Energy Ltd | 11.67% | 0.01% | 11.66% |
| EFR:CAEnergy Fuels Inc/Canada | 10.18% | 0.01% | 10.17% |
| DYL:AUDeep Yellow Ltd | 4.72% | 0.00% | 4.72% |
| 1164:HKCgn Mining Co. Ltd. | 4.49% | 0.00% | 4.49% |
| BOE:AUBoss Energy Ltd | 3.42% | 0.00% | 3.42% |
| MGA:CAMega Uranium Ltd. | 1.56% | 0.04% | 1.52% |
61.0% of URNJ is already inside VXUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, URNJ or VXUS?
URNJ has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $75 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, URNJ or VXUS?
Over the past year URNJ returned +9.58% vs +24.27% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), URNJ annualized +12.28% vs +16.17% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, URNJ or VXUS?
URNJ has been the more volatile fund at 46.5% annualized versus 12.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: URNJ -57.7% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both URNJ and VXUS?
URNJ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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 URNJ and VXUS?
At least 61.0% of URNJ's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 8 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in URNJ and 8,091 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, URNJ or VXUS?
URNJ yields 6.41% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so URNJ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than URNJ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS 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.