BDVL vs VXUS
iShares Disciplined Volatility Equity Active ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, BDVL or VXUS?
Large 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 | BDVL | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.39% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.51% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 860 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +7.78% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.62% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.7%Best | 14.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.7%Best | -11.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $10,999 | $11,733Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 12, 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 15, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
BDVL 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.
BDVL vs VXUS Performance
iShares Disciplined Volatility Equity Active ETF (BDVL) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BDVL returned +10.62% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, BDVL is up 7.78% 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 14.2% compared with 8.7% for BDVL. 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 -7.7% for BDVL 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BDVL charges 0.39% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $39 vs $5 annually, a gap of $34 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BDVL currently yields 3.51% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 498 holdings in BDVL and 8,425 in VXUS, totalling 114.5% 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, 173 positions appear in both.
173 positions in common, counted across the 498 positions we hold weights for in BDVL and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 860 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BDVL | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML:ASASML HOLDING NV | 1.79% | 1.42% | 0.37% |
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 0.08% | 1.46% | 1.38% |
| RR:LNRolls Royce Holdings Plc Common Stock Gbp.2 | 1.01% | 0.37% | 0.64% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 1.22% | 0.00% | 1.22% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag – Class N | 0.60% | 0.62% | 0.02% |
| RY:CARoyal Bank of Canada | 0.26% | 0.62% | 0.36% |
| 3988:HKBank Of China Ltd Class H | 0.76% | 0.11% | 0.65% |
| ROP:SMRoche Ps Par Ag | 0.19% | 0.67% | 0.48% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 0.25% | 0.59% | 0.34% |
| GIBA:CACgi, Inc., Class A | 0.69% | 0.03% | 0.66% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BDVL 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, BDVL or VXUS?
BDVL has an expense ratio of 0.39% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $34 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BDVL or VXUS?
Over the past year BDVL returned +10.62% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), BDVL annualized +9.04% vs +15.64% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BDVL or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.2% annualized versus 8.7% for BDVL. Worst drawdown: BDVL -7.7% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both BDVL and VXUS?
BDVL and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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, BDVL or VXUS?
BDVL yields 3.51% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so BDVL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than BDVL?
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.