TWN vs VXUS
Taiwan Fund Inc. vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, TWN or VXUS?
TWN has been ahead.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. TWN led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | TWN | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.96% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $690M | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.93% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 30 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +82.18%Best | +10.00% |
| 1Y Return | +102.97%Best | +17.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +63.69%Best | +19.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +33.18%Best | +8.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 26.1% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.7% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $41,898Best | $15,071 |
| Fund Family | The Taiwan Fund | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 23, 1986 | 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).
TWN 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
TWN vs VXUS Performance
Taiwan Fund Inc. (TWN) is an ETF from The Taiwan Fund and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year TWN returned +102.97% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, TWN is up 82.18% versus a gain of 10.00% for VXUS.
Over three years, TWN compounded at +63.69% per year against +19.55% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +33.18% and +8.55% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, TWN has the edge at +17.55% annualized vs +4.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
TWN has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 26.1% 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 -51.7% for TWN 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
TWN charges 0.96% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $96 vs $5 annually, a gap of $91 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, TWN currently yields 4.93% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 64.4% of TWN'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.
The two holdings books were reported 92 days apart, TWN as of May 31, 2026 and VXUS as of Aug 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
25 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in TWN and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 30 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in TWN | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2454:TWMediaTek Inc ORD TWD10 | 8.16% | 0.40% | 7.76% |
| 7769:TWHon Precision Inc Twd 10.0 | 6.81% | 0.00% | 6.81% |
| 3037:TWUnimicron Technology Corp | 5.39% | 0.09% | 5.30% |
| 2059:TWKing Slide Works Co Ltd | 5.14% | 0.05% | 5.09% |
| 2308:TWDelta Electronics Inc | 4.74% | 0.24% | 4.50% |
| 2383:TWElite Material Co Ltd | 4.70% | 0.11% | 4.59% |
| 6223:TWMpi Corp | 4.24% | 0.03% | 4.21% |
| 3081:TWLandmark Optoelectronics Corp | 3.55% | 0.02% | 3.53% |
| 3529:TWEmemory Technology Inc | 3.34% | 0.01% | 3.33% |
| 6515:TWWinway Technology Ltd | 3.19% | 0.01% | 3.18% |
64.4% of TWN 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, TWN or VXUS?
TWN has an expense ratio of 0.96% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $91 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, TWN or VXUS?
Over the past year TWN returned +102.97% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so TWN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), TWN annualized +17.55% vs +4.53% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, TWN or VXUS?
TWN has been the more volatile fund at 26.1% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: TWN -51.7% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both TWN and VXUS?
TWN and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 TWN and VXUS?
At least 64.4% of TWN's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 25 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in TWN and 8,425 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, TWN or VXUS?
TWN yields 4.93% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so TWN currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than TWN?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. TWN led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.