VWO vs VXUS
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, VWO or VXUS?
VXUS has been ahead.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | VWO | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.06% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $122.0B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.29% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 6,334 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +11.36% | +14.94%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.36% | +21.99%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.93% | +20.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.89% | +9.48%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.9% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -43.7% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,954 | $15,728Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 4, 2005 | 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 22, 2026 (15.6 years).
VWO 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.
VWO vs VXUS Performance
Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VWO returned +15.36% while VXUS returned +21.99%. Year to date, VWO is up 11.36% versus a gain of 14.94% for VXUS.
Over three years, VWO compounded at +18.93% per year against +20.89% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +6.89% and +9.48% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.84% annualized vs +2.89%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VWO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.9% 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 -43.7% for VWO 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VWO charges 0.06% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $5 annually, a gap of $1 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VWO currently yields 2.29% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 4,688 holdings in VWO and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 89.2% 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, 4,338 positions appear in both.
4,338 positions in common, counted across the 4,688 positions we hold weights for in VWO and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 6,334 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VWO | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 700:HKJiangnan Mould And Plastic Technology Co. Ltd. Class A | 3.19% | 0.85% | 2.34% |
| 2330:SAAdvanced Petrochemical Co | 0.01% | 4.02% | 4.01% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Ltd | 2.33% | 0.62% | 1.71% |
| MKLMarkel Group Inc | 1.17% | 0.76% | 0.41% |
| 2454:TWSongz Automobile Air Conditioning Co. Ltd. Class A | 1.31% | 0.35% | 0.96% |
| 2308:TWDelta Electronics Inc | 0.79% | 0.21% | 0.58% |
| 2317:TWHon Hai Precision Industry Co | 0.78% | 0.21% | 0.57% |
| RELIANCE:MBReliance Industries Ltd | 0.77% | 0.21% | 0.56% |
| HDBK:MBHdfc Bank Limited Common Stock Inr1.0 | 0.75% | 0.20% | 0.55% |
| ICICIBANK:MBIcici Bank Ltd | 0.67% | 0.18% | 0.49% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VWO 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, VWO or VXUS?
VWO has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $1 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VWO or VXUS?
Over the past year VWO returned +15.36% vs +21.99% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VWO annualized +2.89% vs +4.84% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VWO or VXUS?
VWO has been the more volatile fund at 16.9% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: VWO -43.7% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both VWO and VXUS?
VWO and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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, VWO or VXUS?
VWO yields 2.29% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than VWO?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.