VTI vs VXUS
Vanguard Total Stock Market ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
The short answer: VTI is total U.S. market; VXUS is total international (developed + emerging, ex-U.S.). They are complements, not substitutes.
Metric
VTI
VXUS
Issuer
Vanguard
Vanguard
Benchmark
CRSP US Total Market Index
FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index
Inception
May 24, 2001
Jan 26, 2011
Expense Ratio(lower is better)
300 bps
500 bps
AUM(higher = more liquid)
$2.20T
$629.1B
Dividend Yield (TTM)
1.06%
2.76%
Dividend Frequency
Quarterly
Quarterly
Beta (vs S&P 500)(1 = market)
1.03
0.93
1-Year Return
26.66%
31.68%
3-Year Return (annualized)
22.17%
20.19%
5-Year Return (annualized)
12.29%
8.58%
10-Year Return (annualized)
14.81%
9.79%
Data as of May 9, 2026. Returns annualized; past performance is not indicative of future results.
Total Return
YTDVTI: 6.88% · VXUS: 7.35%
1YVTI: 26.66% · VXUS: 31.68%
3Y ann.VTI: 22.17% · VXUS: 20.19%
5Y ann.VTI: 12.29% · VXUS: 8.58%
10Y ann.VTI: 14.81% · VXUS: 9.79%
Which should you pick?
Choose VTI
Pick VTI as your U.S. core. It captures every public U.S. stock and has been the top-performing major equity asset class for over a decade.
Choose VXUS
Pick VXUS for diversification beyond U.S. borders. International stocks have historically led in roughly half of all decades, and current valuations outside the U.S. are notably lower.
Either is fine if…
The classic Bogleheads three-fund split is some VTI + some VXUS (often 60/40 or 70/30) plus BND. This is rarely a 'pick one' decision.
Holdings & sectors
VTI – Top Holdings
- AAPLApple Inc6.2%
- MSFTMicrosoft Corp5.8%
- NVDANVIDIA Corp5.4%
- AMZNAmazon.com Inc3.4%
- GOOGLAlphabet Inc Class A2.0%
VXUS – Top Holdings
- TSMTaiwan Semiconductor2.2%
- NESNNestle SA1.1%
- ASMLASML Holding NV1.0%
- NOVONovo Nordisk0.9%
- TMToyota Motor0.8%
Sector Breakdown
Technology
VTI
29.0%
VXUS
13.0%
Financials
VTI
13.0%
VXUS
20.0%
Industrials
VTI
10.0%
VXUS
14.0%
Healthcare
VTI
12.0%
VXUS
10.0%
Consumer Discretionary
VTI
10.0%
VXUS
11.0%
Communication
VTI
8.0%
VXUS
6.0%
Consumer Staples
VTI
5.0%
VXUS
8.0%
Materials
VTI
2.5%
VXUS
7.0%
Energy
VTI
4.0%
VXUS
5.0%
Real Estate
VTI
3.0%
VXUS
3.0%
Utilities
VTI
2.5%
VXUS
3.0%
At a glance
Expense ratio
VTI300 bps
VXUS500 bps
AUM
VTI$2.20T
VXUS$629.1B
Dividend yield
VTI1.06%
VXUS2.76%
5Y return (ann.)
VTI12.29%
VXUS8.58%
VTI vs VXUS – FAQ
- What percentage of VTI vs VXUS should I hold?
- There's no single right answer. Vanguard's own Target Date funds use roughly 60% U.S. / 40% international. More U.S.-bullish investors hold 80/20 or even 100% VTI. The honest answer: nobody knows which decade will win, so diversifying is rational.
- Has VXUS underperformed VTI?
- Yes, dramatically — over the past 15 years, VXUS has roughly doubled while VTI has more than quadrupled. This is well-known and is itself part of the case for international: valuations have compressed.
- Does VXUS include emerging markets?
- Yes. About 25% of VXUS is emerging markets (China, Taiwan, India, Brazil, etc.). The other 75% is developed markets like Japan, U.K., Canada, Europe, Australia.
- Is VXUS more tax-efficient than VTI?
- Slightly less. VXUS investors must pay foreign withholding taxes on dividends, which you can partially recover via the foreign tax credit if held in a taxable account. In an IRA, you can't claim the credit, so VTI is more tax-efficient there.
- Why hold international at all if U.S. has won?
- Past leadership isn't a guarantee. The U.S. led from 2010–2024; Japan led the 1980s; international led 2000–2010. Holding both protects against being wrong about which region will lead next.