IXUS vs VXUS: fees, holdings and returns
IXUS and VXUS both hold thousands of companies outside the US, in developed and emerging markets, from large to small. IXUS follows an MSCI index and VXUS a FTSE one. Their returns have been close. Over the same dates since October 2012, IXUS returned about 7.7% a year and VXUS returned about 7.8% a year.
Written by the Tactfolio research team. Fund facts checked October 17, 2026. Prices through October 20, 2026.
Key points
- VXUS costs less: 0.05% a year against 0.07%.
- IXUS started trading in October 2012. VXUS started in January 2011.
- Worst drops since 2012: IXUS −36.2%, VXUS −36.0%.
- Daily correlation: 0.99 (1 means they always move together).
What is the difference between IXUS and VXUS?#
Both cover the whole world outside the US. Their indexes differ mainly in how they sort a few countries: MSCI counts South Korea as emerging and FTSE as developed. That changes the developed and emerging labels more than what the funds hold, since both include South Korea. Small differences in which small companies each includes cause small gaps in returns.
| Fact | IXUS | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF | Vanguard Total International Stock ETF |
| Issuer | iShares (BlackRock) | Vanguard |
| Expense ratio | 0.07% a year | 0.05% a year |
| Started trading | October 18, 2012 | January 26, 2011 |
| Tracks | MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index (Net) | FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index |
| Holdings | 4,584 holdings as of October 15, 2026 | 8,740 holdings as of August 31, 2026 |
| Type | International stocks, ETF | International stocks, ETF |
Fund facts checked on the iShares (BlackRock) IXUS page and the Vanguard VXUS page.
Is IXUS or VXUS cheaper?#
VXUS costs less: 0.05% a year against 0.07%. On $10,000, that is about $7 a year for IXUS and $5 for VXUS. The fund takes its fee out of its own value a little each day, so you never get a bill.
IXUS vs VXUS performance over the same dates#
Both funds are measured from October 2012 to October 2026, the dates both traded. IXUS returned about 7.7% a year and VXUS returned about 7.8% a year. VXUS came out ahead over this period, which does not mean it will again.
| Measure | IXUS | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| $10,000 grew to | $28,242 | $28,511 |
| Total return | 182.4% | 185.1% |
| Return per year (CAGR) | 7.7% | 7.8% |
| Worst drop from a high | −36.2% | −36.0% |
| Volatility (how much it swings) | 16.4% | 16.6% |
| Last 12 months | 14.8% | 14.6% |
| Last 3 years, per year | 21.3% | 21.0% |
| Last 5 years, per year | 8.2% | 8.2% |
| Last 10 years, per year | 9.2% | 9.1% |
Prices through October 20, 2026. Figures use daily closing prices adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They do not include taxes or the cost of buying and selling. Past results do not tell you what will happen next.
IXUS and VXUS returns by year#
| Year | IXUS | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 (part of the year) | 12.2% | 11.8% |
| 2025 | 32.4% | 32.4% |
| 2024 | 5.2% | 5.1% |
| 2023 | 15.8% | 15.9% |
| 2022 | −16.5% | −16.1% |
| 2021 | 8.9% | 9.0% |
| 2020 | 10.8% | 10.7% |
| 2019 | 21.7% | 21.8% |
| 2018 | −14.4% | −14.4% |
| 2017 | 28.1% | 27.5% |
| 2016 | 4.7% | 4.8% |
| 2015 | −4.7% | −4.2% |
| 2014 | −5.0% | −4.7% |
| 2013 | 13.7% | 14.6% |
| 2012 (part of the year) | 7.6% | 7.4% |
Which fell further in bad times?#
A drawdown is how far a fund falls from its last high point. IXUS’s worst fall was −36.2%, from January 26, 2018 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on November 16, 2020.
VXUS’s worst fall was −36.0%, from January 26, 2018 to March 23, 2020. It got back to that high on November 16, 2020.
Their daily moves had a correlation of 0.99. A correlation of 1 means two funds always move up and down together. Near 0 means they move on their own. So holding both adds little variety.
Why people choose IXUS or VXUS#
IXUS. People who already use iShares funds often pick IXUS.
VXUS. People who already use Vanguard funds often pick VXUS.
Strategies that hold IXUS or VXUS#
These classic strategies hold one or both at least some of the time. Each is a set of written rules you can open, test and copy.
- Three-Fund Portfolio (Taylor Larimore, Bogleheads), by Taylor Larimore, 2018 (holds VXUS)
Other funds like IXUS and VXUS#
Each fund has more funds that hold the same kind of investments, ranked by how closely they move with it: IXUS alternatives and VXUS alternatives.
Test a mix of IXUS and VXUS#
Open the builder, add IXUS and VXUS, and give each a weight, such as 50% and 50%. The backtest shows how the mix would have done, with its worst drop, on daily prices. You can also add a rule, for example to switch between them, and compare. Read the full pages for IXUS and VXUS, or see more ETF comparisons.
The details#
Both funds use Tactfolio’s stored daily prices, adjusted for splits, with dividends reinvested. They are compared only on days both traded, starting the later fund’s first day, so neither gets a head start. Correlation uses daily returns over the same days. Read what a backtest simulates for more on these measures.
Common questions#
Are IXUS and VXUS the same?#
Very close. Both hold nearly every company outside the US, weighted by size. They follow different index providers and charge similar fees.
Do IXUS and VXUS hold US stocks?#
No. Both hold only companies based outside the United States.
Which is cheaper, IXUS or VXUS?#
VXUS costs less: 0.05% a year against 0.07%. Fees come from each issuer and were checked on October 17, 2026.
Which did better, IXUS or VXUS?#
From October 2012 to October 2026, IXUS returned about 7.7% a year and VXUS returned about 7.8% a year, with dividends reinvested. Their worst drops were −36.2% and −36.0%. Past returns do not tell you what comes next.