VXUS vs XHS
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF vs State Street SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF
Which is better, VXUS or XHS?
Large Cap Blend against Mid Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 3Y and 5Y, XHS over 1Y 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 | VXUS | XHS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05%Best | 0.35% |
| AUM | $158.1B | $214M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.51% | 0.20% |
| Holdings | 8,747 | 61 |
| YTD Return | +13.64% | +28.09%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.82% | +40.65%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.58%Best | +17.86% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.14%Best | +4.87% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7%Best | 19.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.9% | -39.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,485Best | $12,684 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | State Street Investment Management |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Mid Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 26, 2011 | Sep 28, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 29, 2011 to Sep 17, 2026 (15 years).
VXUS vs XHS 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 years both funds cover.
VXUS vs XHS Performance
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street SPDR S&P Health Care Services ETF (XHS) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year VXUS returned +20.82% while XHS returned +40.65%. Year to date, VXUS is up 13.64% versus a gain of 28.09% for XHS.
Over three years, VXUS compounded at +19.58% per year against +17.86% for XHS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.14% and +4.87% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, XHS has the edge at +12.22% annualized vs +6.17%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XHS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 14.7% 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 -39.9% for VXUS and -39.4% for XHS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.61. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VXUS charges 0.05% per year while XHS charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $35 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VXUS currently yields 2.51% against 0.20% for XHS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 8,082 holdings in VXUS and 60 in XHS, totalling 88.8% and 100.0% 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 8,082 positions we hold weights for in VXUS and 60 in XHS, against full books of 8,747 and 61.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 8,082 and 60 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 35 positions XHS 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 VXUS and XHS 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, VXUS or XHS?
VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05% while XHS charges 0.35%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VXUS or XHS?
Over the past year VXUS returned +20.82% vs +40.65% for XHS, so XHS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), VXUS annualized +6.17% vs +12.22% for XHS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VXUS or XHS?
XHS has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 14.7% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: VXUS -39.9% vs XHS -39.4%.
Should I hold both VXUS and XHS?
VXUS and XHS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.61, 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, VXUS or XHS?
VXUS yields 2.51% while XHS yields 0.20%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XHS better than VXUS?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 3Y and 5Y, XHS over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.