ARMY vs VXUS
Tema International Defense ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ARMY or VXUS?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y 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 | ARMY | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.68% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $7M | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 68 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | -8.17% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | -10.54% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 30.1% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.6% | -11.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $8,874 | $11,920Best |
| Fund Family | Tema Global Limited | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 25, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
ARMY 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
ARMY vs VXUS Performance
Tema International Defense ETF (ARMY) is an ETF from Tema Global Limited and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ARMY returned -10.54% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, ARMY is down 8.17% versus a gain of 10.00% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ARMY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 30.1% compared with 14.2% 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 -21.6% for ARMY 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ARMY charges 0.68% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $68 vs $5 annually, a gap of $63 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ARMY currently yields 0.00% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 34 holdings in ARMY and 8,425 in VXUS, totalling 85.2% and 91.3% 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, 15 positions appear in both.
15 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in ARMY and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 68 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ARMY | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESLT:ILElbit Systems Ltd | 3.84% | 0.04% | 3.80% |
| RR:LNRolls-Royce Holdings PLC Ord Gbp0.20 | 3.44% | 0.37% | 3.07% |
| LDO:MILeonardo Spa | 3.57% | 0.05% | 3.52% |
| KOG:OSKongsberg Gruppen | 3.54% | 0.03% | 3.51% |
| IDR:MAIndra Sistemas Sa | 3.49% | 0.01% | 3.48% |
| SAF:PASafran Sa | 3.21% | 0.29% | 2.92% |
| HO:PAThales Sa | 3.42% | 0.06% | 3.36% |
| QQ:LNQinetiq Group Plc | 3.43% | 0.01% | 3.42% |
| SAABB:STSaab Ab Cl. B | 3.34% | 0.04% | 3.30% |
| HAG:DBHensoldt Ag | 3.36% | 0.01% | 3.35% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ARMY 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, ARMY or VXUS?
ARMY has an expense ratio of 0.68% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $63 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ARMY or VXUS?
Over the past year ARMY returned -10.54% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ARMY annualized -10.29% vs +17.31% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ARMY or VXUS?
ARMY has been the more volatile fund at 30.1% annualized versus 14.2% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: ARMY -21.6% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both ARMY and VXUS?
ARMY and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, 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, ARMY or VXUS?
ARMY yields 0.00% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ARMY?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.