VXUS vs XT
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF vs iShares Future Exponential Technologies ETF
Which is better, VXUS or XT?
Large Cap Blend against Large Cap Growth.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 3Y and 5Y, XT 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 | XT |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05%Best | 0.46% |
| AUM | $158.1B | $3.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.51% | 6.87% |
| Holdings | 8,747 | 226 |
| YTD Return | +13.64% | +17.45%Best |
| 1Y Return | +20.82% | +26.21%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.58%Best | +18.51% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.14%Best | +6.86% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.9%Best | 17.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.9% | -34.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,485Best | $13,934 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | iShares by BlackRock (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 26, 2011 | Mar 19, 2015 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 24, 2015 to Sep 17, 2026 (11.5 years).
VXUS vs XT 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 11.5 years both funds cover.
VXUS vs XT Performance
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and iShares Future Exponential Technologies ETF (XT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US). Over the past year VXUS returned +20.82% while XT returned +26.21%. Year to date, VXUS is up 13.64% versus a gain of 17.45% for XT.
Over three years, VXUS compounded at +19.58% per year against +18.51% for XT; over five years the annualized figures are +9.14% and +6.86% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, XT has the edge at +11.65% annualized vs +6.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 14.9% 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 -34.4% for XT. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VXUS charges 0.05% per year while XT charges 0.46%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $46 annually, a gap of $41 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VXUS currently yields 2.51% against 6.87% for XT.
Holdings Overlap
At least 17.1% of XT's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 88.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
XT and VXUS share little of their money.
63 positions in common, counted across the 8,082 positions we hold weights for in VXUS and 194 in XT, against full books of 8,747 and 226.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VXUS | Weight in XT | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 1.41% | 0.87% | 0.54% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag – Class N | 0.65% | 1.62% | 0.97% |
| AZN:LNAstraZeneca PLC | 0.57% | 1.39% | 0.82% |
| IBE:MAIberdrola S.A. | 0.37% | 1.31% | 0.94% |
| IFX:FFInfineon Technologies AG Infineon Technologies Agnamens Aktien O N | 0.21% | 1.39% | 1.18% |
| 6981:JPMurata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Com Stk | 0.18% | 1.41% | 1.23% |
| BAES:LNBae Systems Plc | 0.19% | 0.78% | 0.59% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Ltd | 0.62% | 0.28% | 0.34% |
| GSK:LNGSK plc | 0.23% | 0.55% | 0.32% |
| 6723:JPRenesas Electronics Corp. Com Stk | 0.07% | 0.61% | 0.54% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VXUS and XT 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 XT?
VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05% while XT charges 0.46%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $41 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VXUS or XT?
Over the past year VXUS returned +20.82% vs +26.21% for XT, so XT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), VXUS annualized +6.13% vs +11.65% for XT. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VXUS or XT?
XT has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 14.9% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: VXUS -39.9% vs XT -34.4%.
Should I hold both VXUS and XT?
VXUS and XT have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between VXUS and XT?
At least 17.1% of XT's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 63 positions in common, counted across the 8,082 positions we hold weights for in VXUS and 194 in XT.
Which pays a higher dividend, VXUS or XT?
VXUS yields 2.51% while XT yields 6.87%, so XT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XT better than VXUS?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 3Y and 5Y, XT over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.