EQLT vs VXUS
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Quality Factor ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, EQLT or VXUS?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EQLT led over 1Y, VXUS over 3Y, 5Y 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 | EQLT | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $12M | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.31% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 313 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +17.03%Best | +10.00% |
| 1Y Return | +26.80%Best | +17.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | -0.62% | +19.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -0.62% | +8.55%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.1% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.8% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $9,694 | $15,071Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 4, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 25, 2014 to Oct 14, 2026 (12.6 years).
EQLT 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 12.6 years both funds cover.
EQLT vs VXUS Performance
iShares MSCI Emerging Markets Quality Factor ETF (EQLT) 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 EQLT returned +26.80% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, EQLT is up 17.03% versus a gain of 10.00% for VXUS.
Over three years, EQLT compounded at -0.62% per year against +19.55% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are -0.62% and +8.55% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +5.19% annualized vs +3.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EQLT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.1% compared with 14.5% 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 -45.8% for EQLT and -39.9% 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 0.54. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EQLT charges 0.35% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $5 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EQLT currently yields 2.31% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 71.2% of EQLT'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.
Most of EQLT is already inside VXUS. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
184 positions in common, counted across the 289 positions we hold weights for in EQLT and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 313 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EQLT | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 5.84% | 1.46% | 4.38% |
| 992:HKLenovo Group Ltd | 5.54% | 0.06% | 5.48% |
| 2345:TWAccton Technology Corp | 3.95% | 0.07% | 3.88% |
| 2059:TWKing Slide Works Co Ltd | 3.62% | 0.05% | 3.57% |
| 5274:TWAspeed Technology Inc | 3.38% | 0.04% | 3.34% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding, Ltd. | 2.81% | 0.59% | 2.22% |
| TCS:MBTata Consultancy Services Ltd | 2.24% | 0.06% | 2.18% |
| 300308:SHZhongji Innolight Co. Ltd. Class A | 1.40% | 0.02% | 1.38% |
| ANGJ:ZAAnglogold Ashanti Plc | 1.25% | 0.11% | 1.14% |
| PETR4:BVPetroleo Brasileiro Sa (Preference) | 1.18% | 0.09% | 1.09% |
71.2% of EQLT is already inside VXUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, EQLT or VXUS?
EQLT has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EQLT or VXUS?
Over the past year EQLT returned +26.80% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so EQLT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), EQLT annualized +3.06% vs +5.19% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EQLT or VXUS?
EQLT has been the more volatile fund at 19.1% annualized versus 14.5% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: EQLT -45.8% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both EQLT and VXUS?
EQLT and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.54, 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 EQLT and VXUS?
At least 71.2% of EQLT's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 184 positions in common, counted across the 289 positions we hold weights for in EQLT and 8,425 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, EQLT or VXUS?
EQLT yields 2.31% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than EQLT?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. EQLT led over 1Y, VXUS over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.