VXUS vs ZTR
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF vs Virtus Total Return Fund Inc
Which is better, VXUS or ZTR?
Large Cap Blend against Allocation/Balanced.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | ZTR |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05%Best | 2.53% |
| AUM | $158.1B | $372M |
| Dividend Yield | 2.59% | 8.06% |
| Holdings | 8,747 | 796 |
| YTD Return | +16.15%Best | +13.56% |
| 1Y Return | +27.58%Best | +19.04% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.48%Best | +20.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.09%Best | +3.71% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Best | 18.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.9%Best | -65.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,450Best | $11,998 |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Virtus Investment Partners |
| Category | Equity | Allocation/Balanced |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Allocation/Balanced |
| Inception | Jan 26, 2011 | Feb 24, 2005 |
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 4, 2026 (15.6 years).
VXUS vs ZTR 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.
VXUS vs ZTR Performance
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Virtus Total Return Fund Inc (ZTR) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners. Over the past year VXUS returned +27.58% while ZTR returned +19.04%. Year to date, VXUS is up 16.15% versus a gain of 13.56% for ZTR.
Over three years, VXUS compounded at +20.48% per year against +20.01% for ZTR; over five years the annualized figures are +9.09% and +3.71% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.93% annualized vs -0.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ZTR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.2% 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 -39.9% for VXUS and -65.1% for ZTR. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VXUS charges 0.05% per year while ZTR charges 2.53%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $253 annually, a gap of $248 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VXUS currently yields 2.59% against 8.06% for ZTR.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 8,092 holdings in VXUS and 514 in ZTR, totalling 87.5% and 129.3% 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, 18 positions appear in both.
18 positions in common, counted across the 8,092 positions we hold weights for in VXUS and 514 in ZTR, against full books of 8,747 and 796.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VXUS | Weight in ZTR | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AENA:MAAena Sme Sa | 0.05% | 6.40% | 6.35% |
| CP:CACp Railway Ltd | 0.17% | 3.47% | 3.30% |
| SRESempra | 0.00% | 2.97% | 2.97% |
| FHZN:SMFlughafen Zurich Ag | 0.01% | 2.92% | 2.91% |
| TCL:AUTransurban Group | 0.07% | 2.84% | 2.77% |
| TRP:CATc Energy Corp | 0.15% | 2.38% | 2.23% |
| NG:LNNational Grid Plc | 0.18% | 1.90% | 1.72% |
| ENB:CAEnbridge Inc. | 0.26% | 1.75% | 1.49% |
| UU:LNUnited Utilities Group PLC Ord Gbp0.05 | 0.03% | 1.47% | 1.44% |
| KEY:CAKeyera Corp | 0.02% | 1.40% | 1.38% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VXUS and ZTR 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 ZTR?
VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05% while ZTR charges 2.53%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $248 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VXUS or ZTR?
Over the past year VXUS returned +27.58% vs +19.04% for ZTR, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VXUS annualized +4.93% vs -0.66% for ZTR. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VXUS or ZTR?
ZTR has been the more volatile fund at 18.2% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: VXUS -39.9% vs ZTR -65.1%.
Should I hold both VXUS and ZTR?
VXUS and ZTR have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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 ZTR?
VXUS yields 2.59% while ZTR yields 8.06%, so ZTR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is ZTR better than VXUS?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.