Dividend comparison
VT vs VXUS: Which Is Better?
Fees, yield, total returns, drawdowns, holdings overlap and dividend history for Vanguard Total World Stock ETF and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF, side by side. Updated October 21, 2026.
- Fees. VXUS is cheaper at 0.05% a year versus 0.06% for VT. On $10,000 that is $1 a year less in fees.
- Income. VXUS pays more income, yielding 2.37% over the last twelve months versus 1.53% for VT. That is about $84 more a year on $10,000. VT pays annual, VXUS pays quarterly.
- Performance. Over the last 5 years, VT returned 60.7% versus 44.9% for VXUS, with dividends reinvested. $10,000 would have grown to $16,069 in VT and $14,485 in VXUS.
- Risk. VXUS has been the bumpier ride. Its worst peak-to-trough decline over the last 5 years was -28.9%, against -26.4% for VT.
- Diversification. VT holds 9,773 positions and VXUS holds 8,602. The ten largest positions make up 22.3% of VT and 13.4% of VXUS.
- Overlap. At least 8% of the two portfolios overlap by weight, across 28 shared holdings. They mostly own different companies, so they can complement each other.
- Dividend growth. VT grew its yearly payout 7.1% a year over the last 4 years, versus 5.1% for VXUS.
- Size. VXUS is the larger fund with $649.3 billion in assets, against $101.2 billion for VT.
Bottom line: VT fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. VXUS fits better if you care most about more income today.
| Metric | VT Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | VXUS Vanguard Total International Stock ETF |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend yield (TTM) | 1.53% | 2.37% |
| Dividend / share (TTM) | $2.41 | $1.98 |
| Payout frequency | Annual | Quarterly |
| Last dividend | $0.4084 on Sep 22, 2026 | $0.1562 on Sep 22, 2026 |
| Ex-dividend date | Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Dividend growth (CAGR) | 7.1% over 4 yrs | 5.1% over 4 yrs |
| Price | $157.80 | $83.74 |
| Dividend growth streak | — | 1 year |
| Beta | 0.93 | 0.92 |
| Max drawdown (5Y) | -26.4% | -28.9% |
| Market cap | $101.30B | $667.22B |
| Exchange | AMEX | NASDAQ |
| Expense ratio | 0.06% | 0.05% |
| Assets under management | $101.20B | $649.30B |
| Number of holdings | 9773 | 8602 |
| Top 10 concentration | 22.3% | 13.4% |
VT
$12.75/mo
$153 /yr at 1.53% yield
VXUS
$19.75/mo
$237 /yr at 2.37% yield
| Year | VT | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2.5732 | $2.3988 |
| 2024 | $2.2939 | $1.9842 |
| 2023 | $2.1419 | $1.8808 |
| 2022 | $1.8957 | $1.5990 |
| 2021 | $1.9550 | $1.9678 |
Current income is low and outside your control, so these need pairing with something else if the portfolio has to produce cash today.
What VT vs VXUS actually do
It tracks the FTSE Global All Cap Index at market-cap weights, so US companies make up the majority of the fund simply because they are the majority of world market value, with the remainder spread across developed international and emerging markets. Weights shift as those markets grow or shrink relative to each other, so the allocation decision is made by the market rather than by you. Holding non-US companies brings currency exposure and foreign withholding tax, and the headline yield is usually a little higher than a US-only fund because many international companies pay out more of their earnings.
Suits an investor who wants a single, permanently self-rebalancing global equity holding and no home-country judgment call. Not for someone who wants to control their US weighting deliberately, and not an income fund.
Core holding, global
| Period | VT | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 month | -0.47% | -2.49% |
| 3 months | 1.95% | 0.44% |
| Year to date | 11.87% | 11.00% |
| 1 year | 13.16% | 11.76% |
| 3 years | 80.78% | 72.73% |
| 5 years | 60.69% | 44.85% |
- VT
- VXUS
Both series indexed to 100 on 2021-10-20 using the adjusted closing price series. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
- VT
- VXUS
| Largest shared holdings | VT weight | VXUS weight |
|---|---|---|
| 2330.TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 1.62% | 4.24% |
| 005930.KSSamsung Electronics Co Ltd | 0.77% | 2.02% |
| 000660.KSSK hynix Inc | 0.63% | 1.65% |
| ASML.ASASML Holding NV | 0.59% | 1.54% |
| 0700.HKTencent Holdings Ltd | 0.29% | 0.76% |
| HSBA.LHSBC Holdings PLC | 0.29% | 0.76% |
| SHEL.LShell PLC | 0.23% | 0.62% |
| RY.TORoyal Bank of Canada | 0.23% | 0.61% |
| NOVN.SWNovartis AG | 0.23% | 0.59% |
| ROP.SWRoche Holding AG | 0.22% | 0.65% |
VT9773 holdings total
VXUS8602 holdings total
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| 2330.TWTaiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 4.24% |
| 005930.KSSamsung Electronics Co Ltd | 2.02% |
| 000660.KSSK hynix Inc | 1.65% |
| ASML.ASASML Holding NV | 1.54% |
| 0700.HKTencent Holdings Ltd | 0.76% |
| HSBA.LHSBC Holdings PLC | 0.76% |
| ROP.SWRoche Holding AG | 0.65% |
| SHEL.LShell PLC | 0.62% |
| RY.TORoyal Bank of Canada | 0.61% |
| NOVN.SWNovartis AG | 0.59% |
Quick verdict
VT fits better if you care most about stronger 5-year returns and faster dividend growth. VXUS fits better if you care most about more income today. Model the holding inside your real portfolio before deciding.
Frequently asked questions
Is VT or VXUS better for dividend income?
What is the difference between VT and VXUS?
Which is cheaper, VT or VXUS?
Which has performed better, VT or VXUS?
Which is riskier, VT or VXUS?
How much do VT and VXUS overlap?
How often do VT and VXUS pay dividends?
How much income does $10,000 in VT vs VXUS generate?
Can I hold both VT and VXUS?
Where can I compare VT vs VXUS with my full portfolio?
Related comparisons
For informational and educational purposes only. Not investment advice. Past performance and current yields do not guarantee future results. Verify figures independently before making investment decisions.