UTES vs VXUS
Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, UTES or VXUS?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. UTES led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y.
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 | UTES | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.61% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 19 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -10.64% | +14.49%Best |
| 1Y Return | -12.95% | +21.52%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.73% | +20.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.77%Best | +9.57% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.2% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -35.7%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,238Best | $15,793 |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 23, 2015 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 24, 2015 to Sep 21, 2026 (11 years).
UTES 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 11 years both funds cover.
UTES vs VXUS Performance
Virtus Reaves Utilities ETF (UTES) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year UTES returned -12.95% while VXUS returned +21.52%. Year to date, UTES is down 10.64% versus a gain of 14.49% for VXUS.
Over three years, UTES compounded at +18.73% per year against +20.55% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +12.77% and +9.57% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, UTES has the edge at +11.04% annualized vs +8.01%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
UTES has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.2% compared with 14.8% 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 -35.7% for UTES 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
UTES 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, UTES currently yields 1.61% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 18 holdings in UTES and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 99.7% and 88.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 18 positions we hold weights for in UTES and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 19 and 8,747.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 18 and 8,082 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 35 positions UTES does not, 2.3% of the fund.
Largest: MKL 0.76%, SHEL 0.57%, VWO 0.11%, JD 0.09%, ALC 0.08%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of UTES 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, UTES or VXUS?
UTES 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, UTES or VXUS?
Over the past year UTES returned -12.95% vs +21.52% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), UTES annualized +11.04% vs +8.01% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, UTES or VXUS?
UTES has been the more volatile fund at 16.2% annualized versus 14.8% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: UTES -35.7% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both UTES and VXUS?
UTES and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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, UTES or VXUS?
UTES yields 1.61% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than UTES?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. UTES led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.