PTLC vs VXUS
Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, PTLC or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PTLC 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 | PTLC | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $3.3B | $164.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.99% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 1,011 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +9.08% | +11.26%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.42% | +18.37%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.02% | +20.02%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.54%Best | +8.98% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.9%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -26.6%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,504Best | $15,372 |
| Fund Family | Pacer ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 11, 2015 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 12, 2015 to Oct 13, 2026 (15.7 years).
PTLC 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.
PTLC vs VXUS Performance
Pacer Trendpilot US Large Cap ETF (PTLC) is an ETF from Pacer ETFs and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year PTLC returned +11.42% while VXUS returned +18.37%. Year to date, PTLC is up 9.08% versus a gain of 11.26% for VXUS.
Over three years, PTLC compounded at +15.02% per year against +20.02% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +10.54% and +8.98% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, PTLC has the edge at +9.10% annualized vs +4.61%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 11.9% for PTLC. 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 -26.6% for PTLC 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 -0.09. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
PTLC charges 0.60% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $5 annually, a gap of $55 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, PTLC currently yields 0.99% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of PTLC's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 89.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
4 positions in common, counted across the 503 positions we hold weights for in PTLC and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 1,011 and 8,844.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of PTLC 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, PTLC or VXUS?
PTLC has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $55 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, PTLC or VXUS?
Over the past year PTLC returned +11.42% vs +18.37% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), PTLC annualized +9.10% vs +4.61% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, PTLC or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 11.9% for PTLC. Worst drawdown: PTLC -26.6% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both PTLC and VXUS?
PTLC and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of -0.09, 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, PTLC or VXUS?
PTLC yields 0.99% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than PTLC?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. PTLC 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.