VTIAX vs VXUS
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, VTIAX or VXUS?
Nearly the same fund. VXUS costs less.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VTIAX led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VXUS over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00.
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 | VTIAX | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $102.0B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.47% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 8,762 | 8,747 |
| YTD Price Return | +13.10%Best | +12.20% |
| 1Y Price Return | +17.57%Best | +16.48% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | +16.18%Best | +15.93% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | +6.32%Best | +6.19% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -31.4% | -31.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,585Best | $13,503 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 29, 2010 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for VTIAX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. VTIAX yields 2.47% and VXUS 2.51% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 20, 2021 to Sep 17, 2026 (5 years).
VTIAX 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 5 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
VTIAX vs VXUS Performance
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund Admiral (VTIAX) is a mutual fund from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VTIAX returned +17.57% while VXUS returned +16.48%. Year to date, VTIAX is up 13.10% versus a gain of 12.20% for VXUS.
Over three years, VTIAX compounded at +16.18% per year against +15.93% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +6.32% and +6.19% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTIAX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 15.3% 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 -31.4% for VTIAX and -31.2% 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 1.00. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VTIAX charges 0.09% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $5 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTIAX currently yields 2.47% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Structure and taxes
VTIAX is a mutual fund and VXUS is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 8,504 holdings in VTIAX and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 90.9% and 88.8% 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, 7,109 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, VTIAX as of Jan 31, 2026 and VXUS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
7,109 positions in common, counted across the 8,504 positions we hold weights for in VTIAX and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 8,762 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VTIAX | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML:ASAsml Holding Nv | 1.36% | 1.42% | 0.06% |
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 0.81% | 1.41% | 0.60% |
| 5930:JPBunka Shutter Co Ltd | 0.00% | 1.80% | 1.80% |
| HSBA:LNHsbc Securities Inc | 0.73% | 0.82% | 0.09% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Ltd | 0.92% | 0.62% | 0.30% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag – Class N | 0.69% | 0.65% | 0.04% |
| AZN:LNAstraZeneca PLC | 0.67% | 0.57% | 0.10% |
| RY:CARoyal Bank Of Canada | 0.57% | 0.66% | 0.09% |
| NESN:SMNestle Sa | 0.58% | 0.58% | 0.00% |
| SHELShell Plc | 0.54% | 0.57% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VTIAX 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, VTIAX or VXUS?
VTIAX has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VTIAX or VXUS?
Over the past year VTIAX returned +17.57% vs +16.48% for VXUS, so VTIAX leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VTIAX or VXUS?
VTIAX has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 15.3% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: VTIAX -31.4% vs VXUS -31.2%.
Should I hold both VTIAX and VXUS?
VTIAX and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 1.00, 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, VTIAX or VXUS?
VTIAX yields 2.47% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold VTIAX or VXUS in a taxable account?
VXUS is an ETF and VTIAX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VXUS better than VTIAX?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VTIAX led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VXUS over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 1.00. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.