Average Daily Volume
4.67M
Fund Overview
The Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is designed to provide investors with broad exposure to non-U.S. equity markets. It tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, which includes large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks across developed and emerging markets outside the United States. With holdings in over 7,000 companies, VXUS offers diversified international equity exposure, covering approximately 98% of the investable market capitalization outside the U.S. The fund is known for its low expense ratio and passive management approach, making it a cost-effective choice for investors seeking international diversification.
- Asset Class
-
Equity
- Industry
-
N/A
- Annual Dividend Rate
-
- Smart Beta
-
No
- Leveraged / Inverse
-
N/A / No
- Dividend Quality - Yield
-
- N/A
- Currency Hedged
-
No
- Portfolio Turnover
-
3 %
- Dividend Date
-
Why Invest in the VXUS ETF?
Potential Benefits
- Broad diversification across developed and emerging markets outside the U.S., reducing single-country risk.
- Low expense ratio (0.07% as of 2025), making it cost-efficient for long-term investors.
- Exposure to high-growth regions and sectors not heavily represented in U.S. markets.
- Passive management approach minimizes turnover and tracking error relative to its benchmark.
- Includes small-cap stocks, providing more comprehensive market coverage than many competitors.
Potential Risks
- Exposure to currency fluctuations, as foreign investments are denominated in non-USD currencies.
- Higher volatility in emerging markets compared to developed markets.
- Political and regulatory risks in certain countries may impact performance.
- Potential underperformance relative to U.S. equities during periods of dollar strength.
- Dividend withholding taxes in some countries may reduce net returns.
RSI data unavailable or insufficient history.
Monthly Returns (%)
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 2026 |
+5.6%
|
+5.2%
|
-7.9%
|
+7.7%
|
+3.6%
|
-0.2%
|
-1.1%
|
+3.2%
|
-2.5%
|
+1.0%
|
-
|
-
|
| 2025 |
+3.4%
|
+1.9%
|
+0.4%
|
+2.8%
|
+4.8%
|
+4.0%
|
-0.9%
|
+4.2%
|
+3.4%
|
+1.6%
|
+0.4%
|
+2.5%
|
| 2024 |
-1.7%
|
+2.9%
|
+3.2%
|
-2.3%
|
+4.0%
|
-0.8%
|
+2.6%
|
+2.4%
|
+2.6%
|
-4.5%
|
-0.2%
|
-2.9%
|
| 2023 |
+8.7%
|
-4.3%
|
+2.8%
|
+1.9%
|
-3.5%
|
+4.5%
|
+3.9%
|
-4.4%
|
-3.4%
|
-3.4%
|
+8.2%
|
+5.1%
|
| 2022 |
-2.8%
|
-2.8%
|
-0.3%
|
-6.5%
|
+1.5%
|
-8.0%
|
+3.6%
|
-4.5%
|
-9.9%
|
+3.4%
|
+13.0%
|
-2.1%
|
| 2021 |
+0.2%
|
+2.3%
|
+1.9%
|
+2.8%
|
+3.1%
|
-0.3%
|
-1.1%
|
+1.5%
|
-3.5%
|
+2.9%
|
-4.3%
|
+3.6%
|
| 2020 |
-3.4%
|
-6.6%
|
-16.3%
|
+7.6%
|
+5.0%
|
+4.2%
|
+4.1%
|
+4.4%
|
-1.8%
|
-2.3%
|
+12.6%
|
+5.9%
|
| 2019 |
+7.7%
|
+1.6%
|
+0.8%
|
+2.8%
|
-5.4%
|
+5.8%
|
-2.0%
|
-2.2%
|
+2.7%
|
+3.4%
|
+1.0%
|
+4.4%
|
| 2018 |
+5.7%
|
-5.2%
|
-0.4%
|
+0.5%
|
-1.6%
|
-2.1%
|
+2.6%
|
-2.4%
|
+0.2%
|
-8.6%
|
+1.7%
|
-4.9%
|
| 2017 |
+4.1%
|
+1.3%
|
+3.0%
|
+2.1%
|
+3.0%
|
+0.6%
|
+3.4%
|
+0.5%
|
+1.9%
|
+2.0%
|
+0.6%
|
+2.1%
|
< -5%
-5% to -2%
-2% to 0%
0%
0% to +2%
+2% to +5%
> +5%
Top Holdings (by weight)
| Symbol |
Company Name |
Weight |
|
RY
|
ROYAL BANK OF CANADA |
0.5 % |
|
SHOP
|
n/a |
0.4 % |
|
ENB
|
ENBRIDGE INC |
0.3 % |
|
TD
|
THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK |
0.3 % |
|
BN
|
n/a |
0.3 % |
|
BMO
|
BANK OF MONTREAL |
0.2 % |
|
CP
|
CANADIAN PACIFIC KANSAS CITY LTD |
0.2 % |
|
PDD
|
PDD HOLDINGS INC ADR |
0.2 % |
|
BNS
|
BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA |
0.2 % |
|
CNQ
|
CANADIAN NATURAL RESOURCES LTD |
0.2 % |
Top 10 holdings shown, out of 8 total holdings.
Related ETFs: VXUS vs Peers
Comparison highlights key differences on cost, coverage, and focus within sector ETFs.
Investment Strategy
VXUS tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, a market-cap-weighted index that includes large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks from developed and emerging markets outside the United States. The fund employs a passive management strategy, aiming to replicate the performance of its benchmark with minimal tracking error. It holds over 7,000 securities across 47 countries, providing comprehensive exposure to international equities. The fund is rebalanced quarterly to maintain alignment with the index composition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does VXUS include exposure to China?
Yes, VXUS includes Chinese stocks, both A-shares and those listed in Hong Kong, as part of its emerging markets allocation.
How often does VXUS pay dividends?
VXUS pays dividends quarterly, with distributions typically occurring in March, June, September, and December.
What percentage of VXUS is allocated to emerging markets?
As of 2025, approximately 25% of VXUS's holdings are in emerging markets, with the remainder in developed markets outside the U.S.
Is VXUS a good hedge against U.S. market downturns?
While international stocks don't always move in sync with U.S. markets, they can provide diversification benefits during periods of U.S. underperformance, though this isn't guaranteed.
Industry Overview
The Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) provides exposure to the global equity market outside the United States, encompassing both developed and emerging markets. International equities can offer diversification benefits and growth opportunities, particularly in regions with faster economic expansion than the U.S. However, they also come with additional risks, including currency fluctuations and geopolitical uncertainties. VXUS is particularly suited for investors looking to complement their U.S. equity holdings with a low-cost, broadly diversified international portfolio.
Alternative Comparison
Compared to its closest peer, iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS), VXUS offers slightly broader coverage by including small-cap stocks, which IXUS excludes. Both funds have similarly low expense ratios (0.07% for VXUS vs. 0.08% for IXUS as of 2025). Another competitor, the Schwab International Equity ETF (SCHF), focuses solely on developed markets, excluding emerging markets entirely. VXUS's inclusion of emerging markets provides additional growth potential but also increases volatility relative to SCHF.
Issuer Overview
Vanguard is one of the world's largest investment management companies, known for its low-cost index funds and ETFs. Founded by John C. Bogle in 1975, Vanguard pioneered the index investing approach and remains a leader in passive investment strategies. The company is structured as a client-owned mutual fund company, which allows it to operate at cost and pass savings on to investors through low expense ratios.
Conclusion
VXUS is a compelling option for investors seeking low-cost, diversified exposure to international equities. Its broad coverage of both developed and emerging markets, combined with Vanguard's reputation for cost efficiency, makes it a core holding for many globally diversified portfolios. While international investing carries additional risks, VXUS's passive approach and extensive diversification help mitigate some of these concerns.
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