DESK vs VXUS
VanEck Office and Commercial REIT ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, DESK or VXUS?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | DESK | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.51% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.26% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 52 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +2.87% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | -3.92% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.71% | +19.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.6% | 11.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -28.6% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 3.1 years | $12,789 | $16,996Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 19, 2023 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 21, 2023 to Oct 14, 2026 (3.1 years).
DESK 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 3.1 years both funds cover.
DESK vs VXUS Performance
VanEck Office and Commercial REIT ETF (DESK) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DESK returned -3.92% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, DESK is up 2.87% versus a gain of 10.00% for VXUS.
Over three years, DESK compounded at +9.71% per year against +19.55% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DESK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.6% compared with 11.9% 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 -28.6% for DESK and -13.6% 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DESK charges 0.51% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $51 vs $5 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DESK currently yields 5.26% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.9% of DESK'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.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in DESK and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 52 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DESK | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EGPEastgroup Properties Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 0.86% | 0.00% | 0.86% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DESK 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, DESK or VXUS?
DESK has an expense ratio of 0.51% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DESK or VXUS?
Over the past year DESK returned -3.92% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DESK or VXUS?
DESK has been the more volatile fund at 22.6% annualized versus 11.9% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: DESK -28.6% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both DESK and VXUS?
DESK and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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, DESK or VXUS?
DESK yields 5.26% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so DESK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than DESK?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.