VXUS Delivers International Exposure at a Lower Cost Than ACWX
The Motley Fool·2026-01-17 21:56

Core Insights - The Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is more cost-effective and diversified compared to the iShares MSCI ACWI ex US ETF (ACWX), making it a preferable option for investors seeking international equity exposure [1][12][13] Cost & Size Comparison - VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05%, significantly lower than ACWX's 0.32% [3][4] - VXUS has a total assets under management (AUM) of $124.7 billion, while ACWX has $8.4 billion [3] - The one-year return for VXUS is 33.7%, slightly lower than ACWX's 34.2% [3] Performance & Risk Metrics - Over the last five years, VXUS has generated a total return of 48.3%, compared to ACWX's 46.4% [11] - The maximum drawdown for VXUS is -29.43%, while ACWX's is -30.06% [5][11] - Both funds have a beta of 0.79, indicating lower volatility compared to the S&P 500 [3][11] Holdings & Sector Allocation - VXUS holds 8,602 stocks, providing broader diversification, while ACWX holds 1,751 stocks [6][7] - ACWX is heavily weighted towards financial services (25%), technology (15%), and industrials (15%) [6] - VXUS has a significant allocation to cash and others (53%), with smaller portions in industrials and technology [7] Dividend Yield - VXUS offers a higher dividend yield of 3.1% compared to ACWX's 2.7% [4][12]