NLR vs VXUS
VanEck Uranium & Nuclear ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, NLR or VXUS?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. NLR 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 | NLR | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.52% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $3.4B | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.06% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 52 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | -28.95% | +10.00%Best |
| 1Y Return | -39.48% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.30% | +19.55%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.54%Best | +8.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.1% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -46.1% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,869Best | $15,071 |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 13, 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).
NLR 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.
NLR vs VXUS Performance
VanEck Uranium & Nuclear ETF (NLR) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year NLR returned -39.48% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, NLR is down 28.95% versus a gain of 10.00% for VXUS.
Over three years, NLR compounded at +14.30% per year against +19.55% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +13.54% and +8.55% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, NLR has the edge at +4.68% annualized vs +4.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
NLR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.1% 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 -46.1% for NLR 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 0.56. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
NLR charges 0.52% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $52 vs $5 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, NLR currently yields 3.06% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 35.9% of NLR'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.
10 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in NLR and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 52 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in NLR | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCO:CACameco Corporation Com Npv | 8.16% | 0.09% | 8.07% |
| NXE:CANexgen Energy Ltd | 5.57% | 0.01% | 5.56% |
| 1816:SHCgn Power Company Limited | 5.27% | 0.01% | 5.26% |
| DML:CADenison Mines Corp | 4.10% | 0.01% | 4.09% |
| PDN:AUPaladin Energy Ltd | 4.05% | 0.01% | 4.04% |
| EFR:CAEnergy Fuels Inc | 4.03% | 0.01% | 4.02% |
| 1164:HKCgn Mining Co Ltd | 1.68% | 0.00% | 1.68% |
| SLX:AUSilex Systems Ltd | 1.27% | 0.00% | 1.27% |
| DYL:AUDeep Yellow Ltd | 1.05% | 0.00% | 1.05% |
| BOE:AUBoss Energy Ltd | 0.69% | 0.00% | 0.69% |
35.9% of NLR 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, NLR or VXUS?
NLR has an expense ratio of 0.52% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, NLR or VXUS?
Over the past year NLR returned -39.48% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), NLR annualized +4.68% vs +4.53% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, NLR or VXUS?
NLR has been the more volatile fund at 21.1% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: NLR -46.1% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both NLR and VXUS?
NLR and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.56, 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 NLR and VXUS?
At least 35.9% of NLR's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 10 positions in common, counted across the 25 positions we hold weights for in NLR and 8,425 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, NLR or VXUS?
NLR yields 3.06% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so NLR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than NLR?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. NLR 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.