URTY vs VXUS
ProShares UltraPro Russell2000 vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, URTY or VXUS?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. URTY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 5Y.
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 | URTY | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.95% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $308M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.79% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 1,996 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +37.99%Best | +14.48% |
| 1Y Return | +45.22%Best | +22.28% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +26.35%Best | +20.00% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -5.76% | +8.91%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 58.3% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -88.2% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,433 | $15,323Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 9, 2010 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 11, 2026 (15.6 years).
URTY 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
URTY vs VXUS Performance
ProShares UltraPro Russell2000 (URTY) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year URTY returned +45.22% while VXUS returned +22.28%. Year to date, URTY is up 37.99% versus a gain of 14.48% for VXUS.
Over three years, URTY compounded at +26.35% per year against +20.00% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -5.76% and +8.91% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, URTY has the edge at +9.40% annualized vs +4.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
URTY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 58.3% compared with 15.0% 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 -88.2% for URTY 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
URTY charges 0.95% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $95 vs $5 annually, a gap of $90 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, URTY currently yields 0.79% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,965 holdings in URTY and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 48.3% 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, 18 positions appear in both.
18 positions in common, counted across the 1,965 positions we hold weights for in URTY and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 1,996 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in URTY | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UCB:BRUcb Sa | 0.04% | 0.08% | 0.04% |
| SSRMSsr Mining Inc | 0.07% | 0.01% | 0.06% |
| MTX:SGMinerals Technologies Inc | 0.02% | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| BIPC:CABROOKFIELD INFRASTRUCTURE-A | 0.05% | 0.01% | 0.04% |
| SIG:AUSigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd | 0.03% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| FBK:MIFinecobank S.P.A. | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.01% |
| EFR:CAEnergy Fuels Inc/Canada | 0.03% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| CWK:LNCranswick Plc. | 0.03% | 0.01% | 0.02% |
| PPTA:CAPerpetua Resources Corp | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| BBUC1559985 Bc Ltd Common Stock | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of URTY 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, URTY or VXUS?
URTY has an expense ratio of 0.95% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $90 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, URTY or VXUS?
Over the past year URTY returned +45.22% vs +22.28% for VXUS, so URTY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), URTY annualized +9.40% vs +4.82% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, URTY or VXUS?
URTY has been the more volatile fund at 58.3% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: URTY -88.2% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both URTY and VXUS?
URTY and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, 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, URTY or VXUS?
URTY yields 0.79% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than URTY?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. URTY led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window, VXUS over 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.