QUSA vs VXUS

QUSA vs VXUS

Which is better, QUSA or VXUS?

VXUS has been ahead.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VXUSHigher Returns: VXUS

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

MetricQUSAVXUS
Expense Ratio0.97%0.05%Best
AUM$22M$163.2B
Dividend Yield15.46%2.34%
Holdings978,844
YTD Return+7.42%+10.00%Best
1Y Return+3.82%+17.01%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+19.55%
5Y Return (annualized)-+8.55%
Volatility (annualized)9.6%Best13.0%
Max Drawdown-9.5%Best-11.3%
$10,000 over 1.4 years$10,771$13,213Best
Fund FamilyVistaSharesVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMay 6, 2025Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 6, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.4 years).

QUSA 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 1.4 years both funds cover.

QUSA vs VXUS Performance

VistaShares Target 15 USA Quality Income ETF (QUSA) is an ETF from VistaShares and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year QUSA returned +3.82% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, QUSA is up 7.42% 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 13.0% compared with 9.6% for QUSA. 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 -9.5% for QUSA 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

QUSA charges 0.97% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $97 vs $5 annually, a gap of $92 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, QUSA currently yields 15.46% against 2.34% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 31 holdings in QUSA and 8,425 in VXUS, totalling 100.5% 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 31 positions we hold weights for in QUSA and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 97 and 8,844.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of QUSA and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

QUSAVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, QUSA or VXUS?

QUSA has an expense ratio of 0.97% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $92 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, QUSA or VXUS?

Over the past year QUSA returned +3.82% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), QUSA annualized +5.45% vs +22.02% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, QUSA or VXUS?

VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 13.0% annualized versus 9.6% for QUSA. Worst drawdown: QUSA -9.5% vs VXUS -11.3%.

Should I hold both QUSA and VXUS?

QUSA and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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, QUSA or VXUS?

QUSA yields 15.46% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so QUSA currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than QUSA?

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.