FZILX vs VXUS
Fidelity ZERO International Index Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, FZILX or VXUS?
Nearly the same fund. FZILX costs less.
FZILX has a lower expense ratio. FZILX led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97.
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 | FZILX | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.00%Best | 0.05% |
| AUM | $13.0B | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.33% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 2,172 | 8,844 |
| YTD Price Return | +12.60%Best | +9.20% |
| 1Y Price Return | +16.67%Best | +14.06% |
| 3Y Price Return (annualized) | +17.57%Best | +16.07% |
| 5Y Price Return (annualized) | +6.25%Best | +5.28% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3%Tie | 15.3%Tie |
| Max Drawdown | -32.3% | -31.2%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,541Best | $12,934 |
| Fund Family | Fidelity Investments (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 2, 2018 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Returns are price returns and exclude distributions, because our data feed carries no adjusted close for FZILX. Both funds are measured the same way, so the comparison holds. FZILX yields 2.33% and VXUS 2.34% on top.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 15, 2021 to Oct 13, 2026 (5 years).
FZILX 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 5 years both funds cover. Prices exclude distributions, on both funds alike.
FZILX vs VXUS Performance
Fidelity ZERO International Index Fund (FZILX) is a mutual fund from Fidelity Investments (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FZILX returned +16.67% while VXUS returned +14.06%. Year to date, FZILX is up 12.60% versus a gain of 9.20% for VXUS.
Over three years, FZILX compounded at +17.57% per year against +16.07% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +6.25% and +5.28% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
FZILX and VXUS have been equally volatile, both at 15.3% annualized.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -32.3% for FZILX and -31.2% 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 0.97. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FZILX charges 0.00% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $0 vs $5 annually, a gap of $5 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FZILX currently yields 2.33% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Structure and taxes
FZILX is a mutual fund and VXUS is an ETF. A mutual fund prices once a day at net asset value and may carry a purchase minimum. An ETF trades through the day at whatever the market pays for it.
In a taxable account the difference that usually matters is distributions. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely has to sell holdings and rarely passes a capital gain to the people who held it; a mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can distribute a realised gain at year end to everyone still in the fund, whether or not they sold anything themselves. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. Both are descriptions of how the two wrappers work, not a recommendation.
Tax-loss harvesting works on either wrapper.
Holdings Overlap
At least 69.3% of FZILX'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.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
1,505 positions in common, counted across the 2,099 positions we hold weights for in FZILX and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 2,172 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in FZILX | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 005930:KRSamsung Electronics Co Ltd | 2.10% | 1.90% | 0.20% |
| ASML:ASASML HOLDING NV | 1.59% | 1.42% | 0.17% |
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock KRW 5000 | 1.49% | 1.46% | 0.03% |
| HSBA:LNHsbc Holdings Plc | 0.91% | 0.77% | 0.14% |
| RY:CARoyal Bank of Canada | 0.73% | 0.62% | 0.11% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag Ordinary Shares | 0.71% | 0.62% | 0.09% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 0.73% | 0.59% | 0.14% |
| AZN:LNAstraZeneca PLC | 0.66% | 0.53% | 0.13% |
| NESN:SMNestle Sa | 0.64% | 0.55% | 0.09% |
| SIE:SGSiemens N Ag | 0.59% | 0.53% | 0.06% |
69.3% of FZILX 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, FZILX or VXUS?
FZILX has an expense ratio of 0.00% while VXUS charges 0.05%. FZILX is the cheaper option, by $5 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FZILX or VXUS?
Over the past year FZILX returned +16.67% vs +14.06% for VXUS, so FZILX leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FZILX or VXUS?
FZILX and VXUS have been equally volatile, both at 15.3% annualized. Worst drawdown: FZILX -32.3% vs VXUS -31.2%.
Should I hold both FZILX and VXUS?
FZILX and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.97, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between FZILX and VXUS?
At least 69.3% of FZILX's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1,505 positions in common, counted across the 2,099 positions we hold weights for in FZILX and 8,425 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, FZILX or VXUS?
FZILX yields 2.33% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is it better to hold FZILX or VXUS in a taxable account?
VXUS is an ETF and FZILX is a mutual fund. An ETF can meet redemptions in kind, so it rarely distributes a capital gain to the people holding it. A mutual fund that sells holdings to meet redemptions can pass a realised gain to every holder at year end. In a tax-deferred account that difference largely disappears. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VXUS better than FZILX?
FZILX has a lower expense ratio. FZILX led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.97. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.