AAUS vs VXUS
Alpha Architect US Equity ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, AAUS or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AAUS led over the full window, VXUS 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 | AAUS | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $511M | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.33% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 295 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +12.55%Best | +10.00% |
| 1Y Return | +15.94% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.7%Best | 13.5% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.1%Best | -11.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $12,287Best | $12,073 |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 22, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 23, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.2 years).
AAUS vs VXUS 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
AAUS vs VXUS Performance
Alpha Architect US Equity ETF (AAUS) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AAUS returned +15.94% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, AAUS is up 12.55% versus a gain of 10.00% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.5% compared with 11.7% for AAUS. 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 -9.1% for AAUS and -11.3% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAUS charges 0.09% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $5 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAUS currently yields 0.33% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 2.7% of AAUS's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 91.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
AAUS and VXUS share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 293 positions we hold weights for in AAUS and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 295 and 8,844.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 293 and 8,425 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 38 positions AAUS does not, 1.5% of the fund.
Largest: SHEL 0.56%, VWO 0.11%, K 0.08%, QSR 0.06%, SUNB 0.06%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AAUS and VXUS 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, AAUS or VXUS?
AAUS has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AAUS or VXUS?
Over the past year AAUS returned +15.94% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), AAUS annualized +18.72% vs +17.00% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AAUS or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 13.5% annualized versus 11.7% for AAUS. Worst drawdown: AAUS -9.1% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both AAUS and VXUS?
AAUS and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between AAUS and VXUS?
At least 2.7% of AAUS's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 293 positions we hold weights for in AAUS and 8,425 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAUS or VXUS?
AAUS yields 0.33% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than AAUS?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. AAUS led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.