LIFT vs VXUS
LifeX 2028 Income Bucket ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, LIFT or VXUS?
Intermediate Term Bond 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 | LIFT | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 45.96% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 22 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | -27.61% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | -27.00% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.5%Best | 14.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -27.7% | -11.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $7,227 | $11,844Best |
| Fund Family | Stone Ridge Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Intermediate Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 24, 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 24, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
LIFT 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.
LIFT vs VXUS Performance
LifeX 2028 Income Bucket ETF (LIFT) is an ETF from Stone Ridge Asset Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year LIFT returned -27.00% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, LIFT is down 27.61% 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 5.5% for LIFT. 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 -27.7% for LIFT 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 0.16. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
LIFT charges 0.25% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $5 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, LIFT currently yields 45.96% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 8 holdings in LIFT and 8,425 in VXUS, totalling 46.2% and 91.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 8 positions we hold weights for in LIFT and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 22 and 8,844.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of LIFT 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, LIFT or VXUS?
LIFT has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, LIFT or VXUS?
Over the past year LIFT returned -27.00% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), LIFT annualized -25.56% vs +16.63% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, LIFT or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.2% annualized versus 5.5% for LIFT. Worst drawdown: LIFT -27.7% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both LIFT and VXUS?
LIFT and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.16, 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, LIFT or VXUS?
LIFT yields 45.96% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so LIFT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than LIFT?
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.