VXUS vs ZSB
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF vs USCF Sustainable Battery Metals Strategy ETF
Which is better, VXUS or ZSB?
Large Cap Blend against Precious Metals.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 3Y and the full window, ZSB over 1Y.
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 | ZSB |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05%Best | 0.59% |
| AUM | $158.1B | $2M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.59% | 0.90% |
| Holdings | 8,747 | 15 |
| YTD Return | +15.57%Best | +3.79% |
| 1Y Return | +27.46% | +48.00%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.30%Best | +5.66% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.96% | - |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.2%Best | 21.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.6%Best | -49.3% |
| $10,000 over 3.6 years | $17,783Best | $9,415 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | USCF Investments |
| Category | Equity | Commodity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Precious Metals |
| Inception | Jan 26, 2011 | Jan 10, 2023 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 11, 2023 to Sep 3, 2026 (3.6 years).
VXUS vs ZSB 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 3.6 years both funds cover.
VXUS vs ZSB Performance
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and USCF Sustainable Battery Metals Strategy ETF (ZSB) is an ETF from USCF Investments. Over the past year VXUS returned +27.46% while ZSB returned +48.00%. Year to date, VXUS is up 15.57% versus a gain of 3.79% for ZSB.
Over three years, VXUS compounded at +20.30% per year against +5.66% for ZSB. Across the full 4-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +17.34% annualized vs -1.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ZSB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.5% compared with 12.2% 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 -13.6% for VXUS and -49.3% for ZSB. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.36. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VXUS charges 0.05% per year while ZSB charges 0.59%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $59 annually, a gap of $54 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VXUS currently yields 2.59% against 0.90% for ZSB.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 8,094 holdings in VXUS and 1 in ZSB, totalling 87.7% and 19.6% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026 and ZSB as of Aug 19, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 8,094 positions we hold weights for in VXUS and 1 in ZSB, against full books of 8,747 and 15.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VXUS and ZSB 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 ZSB?
VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05% while ZSB charges 0.59%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $54 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VXUS or ZSB?
Over the past year VXUS returned +27.46% vs +48.00% for ZSB, so ZSB leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), VXUS annualized +17.34% vs -1.66% for ZSB. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VXUS or ZSB?
ZSB has been the more volatile fund at 21.5% annualized versus 12.2% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: VXUS -13.6% vs ZSB -49.3%.
Should I hold both VXUS and ZSB?
VXUS and ZSB have a monthly-return correlation of 0.36, 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 ZSB?
VXUS yields 2.59% while ZSB yields 0.90%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ZSB better than VXUS?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 3Y and the full window, ZSB over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.