Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

VXUS

Market cap $126B

A well-rounded portfolio should include different industries, company sizes, and locations. An S&P 500 ETF can be a foundational investment in most investors' portfolios.

2025 proved to be a historic period for the ETF industry, characterized by massive flows and a significant broadening of investor appetite across asset classes. The data reveals a market that remains heavily tilted toward core equity exposures while simultaneously embracing alternative stores of value and fixed-income safety.

VXUS has delivered a higher one-year return and yield than VT, but experienced a steeper five-year drawdown. Both funds offer broad global diversification, but VT includes U.S. stocks while VXUS excludes them.

VXUS charges a slightly lower expense ratio than IXUS but offers a lower dividend yield VXUS has outperformed IXUS by a modest margin over the past year and five-year period Both ETFs provide broad international diversification with similar sector exposures and top holdings These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›

VXUS offers a higher dividend yield and slightly lower expense ratio compared to VT VT includes U.S. stocks while VXUS focuses strictly on international equities, resulting in different sector exposures and top holdings Both funds are highly liquid and passively managed, but VT has delivered higher five-year growth and shallower drawdowns These 10 Stocks Could Mint the Next Wave of Millionaires ›

As the calendar turns to 2026, the investment landscape has a different feel than it did just a few years ago.

While most investors obsess over SPY and VOO, Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares (NYSEARCA:VXUS) has quietly delivered 29% returns through mid-December 2025, crushing the S&P 500's 15% gain.

Avantis All International Markets Equity ETF offers diversified exposure to international developed and emerging markets through a fund-of-funds structure. AVNM seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in other Avantis ETFs, focusing on securities with higher expected returns and efficient portfolio management. Compared to the Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares, AVNM aims to enhance returns while maintaining diversification and managing risks and costs.  AVNM gets a Buy rating.

One Vanguard ETF tracks the S&P 500, providing exposure to the broader U.S. economy. Another ETF focuses on companies that consistently increase their annual dividends.

U.S. stocks have outperformed non-U.S. stocks by a wide margin since 2010. Yet, there are some fantastic companies to invest in outside of the United States.