VLUE vs VXUS
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, VLUE or VXUS?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VLUE led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | VLUE | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $9.6B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.39% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 156 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +46.45%Best | +14.48% |
| 1Y Return | +68.83%Best | +22.28% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +32.30%Best | +20.00% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +17.40%Best | +8.91% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.8% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -39.5%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $22,302Best | $15,323 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 16, 2013 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 18, 2013 to Sep 11, 2026 (13.4 years).
VLUE 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 13.4 years both funds cover.
VLUE vs VXUS Performance
iShares MSCI USA Value Factor ETF (VLUE) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VLUE returned +68.83% while VXUS returned +22.28%. Year to date, VLUE is up 46.45% versus a gain of 14.48% for VXUS.
Over three years, VLUE compounded at +32.30% per year against +20.00% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +17.40% and +8.91% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VLUE has the edge at +12.30% annualized vs +6.02%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VLUE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.8% compared with 14.5% 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 -39.5% for VLUE 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VLUE charges 0.15% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $5 annually, a gap of $10 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VLUE currently yields 1.39% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of VLUE'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.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
2 positions in common, counted across the 152 positions we hold weights for in VLUE and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 156 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VLUE 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, VLUE or VXUS?
VLUE has an expense ratio of 0.15% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $10 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VLUE or VXUS?
Over the past year VLUE returned +68.83% vs +22.28% for VXUS, so VLUE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), VLUE annualized +12.30% vs +6.02% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VLUE or VXUS?
VLUE has been the more volatile fund at 18.8% annualized versus 14.5% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: VLUE -39.5% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both VLUE and VXUS?
VLUE and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, VLUE or VXUS?
VLUE yields 1.39% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than VLUE?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VLUE led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.