NIE vs VXUS
Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, NIE or VXUS?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. NIE led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y.
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 | NIE | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.07% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $794M | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.47% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 196 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +8.51% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.07% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.78% | +19.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.41%Best | +8.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.6% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -40.4% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,678Best | $15,071 |
| Fund Family | Virtus Investment Partners | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2007 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Oct 14, 2026 (15.7 years).
NIE 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 15.7 years both funds cover.
NIE vs VXUS Performance
Virtus Equity & Convertible Income Fund (NIE) is an ETF from Virtus Investment Partners and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NIE returned +11.07% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, NIE is up 8.51% versus a gain of 10.00% for VXUS.
Over three years, NIE compounded at +17.78% per year against +19.55% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.41% and +8.55% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, NIE has the edge at +6.11% annualized vs +4.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NIE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 15.0% 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 -40.4% for NIE 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NIE charges 1.07% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $107 vs $5 annually, a gap of $102 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NIE currently yields 9.47% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 113 holdings in NIE and 8,425 in VXUS, totalling 77.6% 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, 1 positions appear in both.
1 positions in common, counted across the 113 positions we hold weights for in NIE and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 196 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NIE | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of NIE 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, NIE or VXUS?
NIE has an expense ratio of 1.07% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $102 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NIE or VXUS?
Over the past year NIE returned +11.07% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), NIE annualized +6.11% vs +4.53% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NIE or VXUS?
NIE has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: NIE -40.4% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both NIE and VXUS?
NIE and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, NIE or VXUS?
NIE yields 9.47% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so NIE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than NIE?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. NIE led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.