VSGX vs VXUS
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, VSGX or VXUS?
Nearly the same fund. VXUS costs less.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VSGX led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | VSGX | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.10% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $6.5B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.99% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 6,629 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +16.21%Best | +16.15% |
| 1Y Return | +25.78% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.95% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.79% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.2%Tie | 16.2%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -33.1%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,551 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 18, 2018 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 20, 2018 to Sep 4, 2026 (8 years).
VSGX 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 8 years both funds cover.
VSGX vs VXUS Performance
Vanguard ESG International Stock ETF (VSGX) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VSGX returned +25.78% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, VSGX is up 16.21% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, VSGX compounded at +19.95% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +7.79% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VSGX has the edge at +8.89% annualized vs +8.48%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VSGX and VXUS have been equally volatile, both at 16.2% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -33.1% for VSGX and -35.1% 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 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VSGX charges 0.10% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $10 vs $5 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VSGX currently yields 2.99% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 6,204 holdings in VSGX and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 91.3% 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, 5,826 positions appear in both.
5,826 positions in common, counted across the 6,204 positions we hold weights for in VSGX and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 6,629 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VSGX | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2330:AEAdvanced Petrochemicals Co | 5.52% | 4.25% | 1.27% |
| 5930:JPBunka Shutter Co Ltd | 2.49% | 2.27% | 0.22% |
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc | 2.10% | 2.17% | 0.07% |
| RY:CARoyal Bank Of Canada | 0.91% | 0.64% | 0.27% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag – Class N | 0.88% | 0.65% | 0.23% |
| ROG:SMRoche Holding Ag | 0.88% | 0.64% | 0.24% |
| NESN:SMNestle Sa | 0.84% | 0.59% | 0.25% |
| AZN:LNAstraZeneca PLC | 0.78% | 0.62% | 0.16% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding, Ltd. | 0.81% | 0.49% | 0.32% |
| SAN:MABanco Santander S.a. | 0.61% | 0.45% | 0.16% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VSGX 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, VSGX or VXUS?
VSGX has an expense ratio of 0.10% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VSGX or VXUS?
Over the past year VSGX returned +25.78% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), VSGX annualized +8.89% vs +8.48% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VSGX or VXUS?
VSGX and VXUS have been equally volatile, both at 16.2% annualized. Worst drawdown: VSGX -33.1% vs VXUS -35.1%.
Should I hold both VSGX and VXUS?
VSGX and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, 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, VSGX or VXUS?
VSGX yields 2.99% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VSGX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than VSGX?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VSGX led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.