VXUS vs VTI ETF Comparison
Compare VXUS and VTI across fund costs, diversification, holdings, performance, income, risk and current AlgovestIQ evidence.
What is the main difference between VXUS and VTI?
VXUS is Vanguard Total International Stock ETF, while VTI is Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF. VXUS is tied to International Equity; VTI is tied to Large Cap Equity. VXUS is broader by holdings count, with 8,285 positions versus 3,482 for VTI. VTI is more concentrated at the top, based on top-10 holdings weight.
| Metric | VXUS | VTI | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.05% | 0.03% | Fund |
| Holdings | 8,285 | 3,482 | Fund |
| Top-10 concentration | 14.1% | 51.4% | Fund |
| Underlying exposure | International Equity | Large Cap Equity | Fund |
| Annualized volatility | 17% | 13.1% | Risk |
| Max drawdown | -11.4% | -9.2% | Risk |
| Beta | 1.08 | 1.02 | Risk |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.00 | 1.03 | Risk |
| Sortino ratio | 1.41 | 1.49 | Risk |
| AIQ Score | 66/100 | 59/100 | AlgovestIQ |
| AIQ Edge Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | AlgovestIQ |
| Momentum | 56/100 | 47/100 | AlgovestIQ |
| Risk Resilience | 84/100 | 89/100 | AlgovestIQ |
AlgovestIQ AIQ Comparison
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
VXUS leads
VXUS leads by 7 AIQ points, primarily on Value and Momentum, and the lead has widened from 3 points over 30 sessions.
Fragile: 2 of 4 evidence groups support VXUS, its lead is widening, and its current signal state is conflicted.
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
The Algovestiq AIQ Score currently favors VXUS over VTI, 66 versus 59 as of Sep 2, 2026. VXUS's advantage is driven primarily by stronger value and momentum, while VTI holds the stronger risk resilience profile. VXUS also shows the stronger technical structure relative to its 50-day moving average. 2 of 4 covered evidence groups favor VXUS today, and the comparison is rated Fragile on stability: only 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. VXUS lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 3 to 7 points over 30 sessions.
Compare Vanguard Total International Stock ETF and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF across performance, expense ratio, dividend yield, drawdown, volatility and the Algovestiq AIQ Score.
AIQ Factor Divergence
Where the two separate, on the four dimensions behind the AIQ Score. Bars read outward from a shared zero: further from the centre is a wider gap.
- Value30%54 vs 38VXUS +16
- Momentum25%56 vs 47VXUS +9
- Risk Resilience15%84 vs 89VTI +5
- Quality30%76 vs 74Even
2 of 4 evidence groups favor VXUS. VXUS’s edge is concentrated in value and momentum; VTI keeps a meaningful risk resilience edge.
What changed since the last close
Latest scored session 2026-09-02, compared against the prior scored session 2026-09-01.
No factor moved materially.
No new signals fired.
No factor moved materially.
No new signals fired.
VXUS's lead was unchanged in the latest snapshot.
Deeper signal detail for each name lives on its own signals page — VXUS and VTI both carry a full feed there.
The central trade-off
VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock ETF): the stronger current systematic profile, led by value and momentum.
VTI (Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF): the counter-case, on risk resilience.
Which one fits your objective
The same two names rank differently depending on what you are optimizing for. All six reads are shown at once — none of them is hidden behind a toggle.
Balanced
VXUSVXUS on the overall AIQ Score, which weights Quality and Value at 30% each.
Growth
EvenGrowth figures are not covered for both names.
Value
VXUSVXUS on the peer-relative Value factor, by 16 points.
Momentum
VXUSVXUS on the Momentum factor, by 9 points.
Lower downside
VTIVTI on Risk Resilience, by 5 points.
Analyst upside
EvenAnalyst targets are level or not covered for both names.
Fund facts, side by side
Two funds tracking overlapping universes are separated by cost and risk far more than by holdings. Those lead here.
| Measure | VXUS | VTI | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expense ratio | 0.05% | 0.03% | Lower is better — it compounds against you every year you hold. |
| Assets under management | $646.2B | $2.30T | Larger funds generally carry tighter spreads. |
| Holdings | 8,602 | 3,598 | More holdings means broader diversification, not better returns. |
| Average volume | 4,720,767 | 4,488,042 | Liquidity — matters most if you trade size. |
| Annualized volatility | 17% | 13.1% | Lower is a steadier ride for the same exposure. |
| Max drawdown | -11.4% | -9.2% | The worst peak-to-trough loss on record for the fund. |
| Sharpe ratio | 1.00 | 1.03 | Return per unit of risk. Higher is better. |
| Beta | 1.08 | 1.02 | Sensitivity to the broad market. Neither direction is better — it depends on the role in your portfolio. |
Where the exposure actually sits
VXUS and VTI share 0.03% of their weighted exposure across 12 common holdings.
VTI is the more concentrated of the two: its ten largest positions are 51.44% of the fund, against 14.13% for VXUS (3482 holdings vs 8285). Concentration cuts both ways — it is what drives outperformance when the top names work, and what makes the drawdown deeper when they do not.
8273 holdings are unique to VXUS and 3470 to VTI. Owning both is genuinely additive — most of the capital sits in different securities.
Largest shared positions
| Holding | VXUS | VTI | Shared |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELEstee Lauder Cos Inc/The | 0.01% | 0.06% | 0.01% |
| SONSonoco Products Co | 0.01% | 0.02% | 0.01% |
| PLUSePlus Inc | 0% | 0.01% | 0% |
| MMacy's Inc | 0% | 0.01% | 0% |
| APAmpco-Pittsburgh Corp | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| SRESempra | 0% | 0.16% | 0% |
| SGPSpyGlass Pharma Inc | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| TELTE Connectivity PLC | 0% | 0.08% | 0% |
Shared weight is the lower of the two positions — the portion of capital both funds genuinely have in the same security.
ETF comparison questions
Short answers to the fund-specific questions behind this comparison.
Which ETF is more diversified, VXUS or VTI?
VXUS currently has more reported holdings, with 8,285 positions versus 3,482.
Which has the lower expense ratio?
VTI has the lower reported expense ratio in the current fund profile.
Which ETF has the higher distribution yield?
The current dataset does not show a higher-yield winner.
Which ETF has been more volatile?
VXUS has the higher annualized volatility in the current risk snapshot.
Which ETF has had the smaller drawdown?
VTI has the less severe max drawdown in the current risk snapshot.
Which ETF has the stronger current AlgovestIQ evidence?
VXUS currently leads on supporting AlgovestIQ evidence, 66 to 59.
AIQ Agreement Matrix
2 of 4 covered evidence groups favor VXUS. A wide gap backed by one group is a weaker case than a narrow gap backed by five.
| Evidence group | Favors | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| AIQ Score | VXUS | 66 vs 59 |
| Fundamentals | Not covered | Not covered |
| Valuation | VXUS | Value 54 vs 38 |
| Technicals | Even | Price vs 50-day 1.8% vs 1.1%; vs 200-day 6.5% vs 7% |
| Risk Resilience | VTI | Risk Resilience 84 vs 89 |
| Analyst expectations | Not covered | Not covered |
✓ agrees with the overall verdict · ✕ points the other way. Groups marked “not covered” lack data on one or both of VXUS and VTI and are excluded from the count.
AIQ Decision Stability
The conclusion is sensitive to small changes. Treat the lead as provisional and watch the flip conditions below.
- The AIQ gap is moderate at 7 points.
- Only 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
- The leader's advantage has been widening. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The lead has been steady session to session. (supports the conclusion holding)
- The leader is throwing conflicting signals. (argues the conclusion is provisional)
Stability combines the score gap, how broadly the evidence agrees, how steady the lead has been across daily snapshots, the current signal state on both names, and analyst dispersion on VXUS.
How the comparison changed
120 daily snapshots · Apr 21 – Sep 2VXUS lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 3 to 7 points over 30 sessions.
- Today
- VXUS +7
- 66 vs 59
- 7 sessions ago
- VXUS +8
- 68 vs 60
- 30 sessions ago
- VXUS +3
- 69 vs 66
- 90 sessions ago
- VXUS +6
- 67 vs 61
The lead changed hands 5 times in this window, most recently on Jul 17 when VXUS moved ahead of VTI.
AIQ Signal Divergence
Only the signals that bear on the head-to-head. A conflicted name is carrying bullish and bearish rules at the same time — the technical evidence is not pointing one way.
4 bullish / 1 bearish / 2 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (5.16%)
- Bollinger Band Squeeze — neutral, volatility, short horizon
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
4 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted
- Golden Cross Active — bullish, trend, long horizon (6.38%)
- EMA Ribbon Expansion Bullish — bullish, trend, medium horizon
- 52-Week High Proximity — bullish, risk, long horizon (2.2%)
VXUS leads the comparison while carrying a conflicted signal state, which is one reason the stability rating is not higher.
Price vs model alignment
Whether the latest session's price move confirms what the model did over the same session, or contradicts it.
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +0.52%, AIQ 0 points).
Neither the price nor the AIQ Score moved enough in the latest session to confirm or contradict the other (price +0.46%, AIQ 0 points).
What would flip this result
A state, not a forecast. These are the specific, observable changes that would reverse the verdict — not a price prediction.
- 1VTI closes the Value gap — currently 16 points behind, the largest single contributor to VXUS's edge.
- 2VTI generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover.
- 3VXUS's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 4 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once.
- 4A regime shift changes factor weighting — the composite weights Quality and Value at 30% each, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
The full evidence
Every number behind the verdict. The leader is called above each group so you are not left to solve it from the table.
Technicals
Split| Metric | VXUS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| RSI (14) | 43.2 | 36.1 |
| ADX (14) | 12.2 | 14.1 |
| Price vs 50-day | 1.8% | 1.1% |
| Price vs 200-day | 6.5% | 7% |
| Volatility (1M, annualized) | 10.2% | 7.7% |
Risk
VTI is the more resilient| Metric | VXUS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Beta | 1.08 | 1.02 |
| Sharpe ratio | 1 | 1.03 |
| Sortino ratio | 1.41 | 1.49 |
| Max drawdown | -11.4% | -9.2% |
| Current drawdown | -1.6% | -2.4% |
| Annualized volatility | 17% | 13.1% |
| Value at risk (95%) | -1.7% | -1.4% |
Straight answers
Each answer is regenerated from the current snapshot, not written once and left to age.
Which is better, VXUS or VTI?
On the Algovestiq AIQ Score, VXUS is the stronger of the two as of Sep 2, 2026, scoring 66 against VTI's 59. The edge comes from value and momentum. VTI is not without a case — it holds the better risk resilience profile, which matters more if that is the objective you are optimizing for. This is a systematic score, not a recommendation: it ranks the two on the same evidence, it does not know your holding period or tax position.
Is VXUS or VTI the better buy right now?
VXUS carries the stronger systematic profile as of Sep 2, 2026, and the comparison is rated Fragile — 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. A Fragile rating means the conclusion is sensitive: only 2 of 4 covered evidence groups agree. Treat the lead as provisional.
Why does the AIQ Score favor VXUS over VTI?
The composite weights Quality at 30%, Value at 30%, Momentum at 25% and Risk Resilience at 15%. VXUS leads Value by 16 points; VXUS leads Momentum by 9 points; VTI leads Risk Resilience by 5 points. Where the two split, the factor with the larger weight carries the result.
Which is better value, VXUS or VTI?
VXUS is the better-valued of the two on the peer-relative Value factor. VXUS on the peer-relative Value factor, by 16 points. The Value factor reads valuation relative to sector peers and to the company's own fundamental quality, so it is not the same as simply having the lower multiple.
Which has stronger growth, VXUS or VTI?
Growth figures are not covered for both names. Growth here is measured on reported revenue and earnings, not on forward estimates — it describes what the businesses have delivered, not what the Street expects next.
Which has stronger momentum, VXUS or VTI?
VXUS on the Momentum factor, by 9 points. Momentum carries 25% of the AIQ composite. It has documented persistence over three- to twelve-month horizons, which makes it a timing input rather than a reason to hold something indefinitely.
Which is riskier, VXUS or VTI?
VTI is the more resilient of the two, so the other name carries the higher downside risk. VTI on Risk Resilience, by 5 points. The Risk Resilience factor weights 15% of the composite; position sizing usually responds to it more usefully than the buy/avoid decision does.
Is VXUS more profitable than VTI?
Margin data is not comparable for both names in the current snapshot.
Is VXUS's lead over VTI getting stronger or weaker?
VXUS lead: Strengthening — the AIQ differential moved from 3 to 7 points over 30 sessions. This is measured from 120 daily comparison snapshots between 2026-04-21 and 2026-09-02. The lead has changed hands 5 times in that window, most recently on 2026-07-17, when VXUS moved ahead of VTI.
What would change the VXUS vs VTI verdict?
The result is a state, not a forecast, so it changes when the underlying evidence changes. Concretely: VTI closes the Value gap — currently 16 points behind, the largest single contributor to VXUS's edge; VTI generates a confirmed bullish trend signal it does not currently carry, such as MACD Bullish Crossover; VXUS's conflicting signal state resolves bearish — it currently carries 4 bullish and 1 bearish rules at once; a regime shift changes factor weighting — the composite weights Quality and Value at 30% each, so a rotation toward either would move the result most.
What do the current signals say about VXUS and VTI?
VXUS: 4 bullish / 1 bearish / 2 neutral, conflicted. VTI: 4 bullish / 1 bearish / 1 neutral, conflicted. A conflicted state means bullish and bearish rules are active on the same name at once — the technical evidence is not pointing one way, and a decision taken on it carries more timing risk. The most decision-relevant rule on VXUS is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon). On VTI it is Golden Cross Active (bullish, long horizon).
Compare VXUS and VTI with others
How this comparison is scored
The Algovestiq AIQ Score composites four factors — Quality (30%), Value (30%), Momentum (25%) and Risk (15%). Sentiment is reported separately as SentimentPulse and is not folded into the composite. Scores refresh every trading day, and this page regenerates from the latest snapshot rather than being written once.
The verdict names a leader, states how broadly six independent evidence groups agree, and rates how durable that conclusion is given the score gap, its recent trajectory and the current signal state on both names.
How to use side-by-side comparison →This comparison is informational and educational, not investment advice. AIQ scores update daily; re-check after earnings, guidance or macro data that materially changes either name’s factor profile.