VXUS vs IXUS

Portfolio characteristics

Net assets are for the ETF share class on different dates (VXUS $158.04B; IXUS $58.01B), so they are not matched. Figures that were not available are left out rather than estimated.

Top ten sums: VXUS 13.4% · IXUS 12.7%. 9 shared top-ten stocks. Weights change.

The sector mirror

Same funds, different lenses

Company size

Both hold large, mid-size and small companies. VXUS holds 8,901 stocks and IXUS holds 4,573.

What you actually own

The first rows are market price total returns computed on the same dates for both funds (to Nov 9, 2026), so they compare like for like. The 10-year figure runs from the Dec 30, 2016 close (9.9 years). The issuer NAV rows are dated separately (VXUS to Oct 31, 2026, IXUS to Sep 30, 2026) and include the since-inception figures. “Since inception” starts in different years (VXUS 2011, IXUS 2012). Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Growth of a hypothetical $10,000 · Market price total return, both to Nov 9, 2026

Both funds derived from annualized market price total returns on matched dates (compounded). Distributions reinvested; fund expenses are already in the price. Illustration, not a forecast.

Paid per share, last 12 months vs the 12 months before

Payouts are listed by ex-dividend date. Because IXUS pays semi-annually, the like-for-like comparison is the total paid over the last 12 months against the 12 months before (cards above: VXUS $1.985 per share, IXUS $2.803 per share). Shares pay most income in one or two large payouts, so a single payout says little. See yield vs total return.

Rank by rank, the ten largest positions of each fund. Top five: VXUS 10.2%, IXUS 9.0%. Top ten: VXUS 13.4%, IXUS 12.7%.

Large funds like these usually trade with small spreads, but check the live spread before you trade. A spread of 0.01% is about $10 between the buy and sell price on $100,000. Foreign markets are closed for part of the U.S. day, so the price can drift from NAV when the underlying stocks are not trading. Use limit orders for large trades and avoid the first and last minutes of the session. See creation, redemption and trading for how NAV, premiums and spreads arise.

Expense ratio is taken from fund assets, not billed. It excludes the bid/ask spread, any premium or discount to NAV, brokerage commissions, taxes, and foreign withholding taxes that reduce dividends before the fund receives them.

Exact eligibility rules, caps and rebalance dates sit in each prospectus and index methodology; read them before relying on this summary.

Both funds aim at the whole non-U.S. stock market, so they own nearly the same companies. The difference is the index provider: FTSE for VXUS, MSCI for IXUS. FTSE counts South Korea as developed while MSCI counts it as emerging, and the two providers draw the small-cap line in slightly different places.

VXUS follows the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index and IXUS follows the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index. Because each provider draws its own market lines, the funds hold different numbers of stocks (8,901 against 4,573) and carry different weights in countries such as South Korea, Canada and Taiwan. Over any window the results can diverge in either direction, and the gap comes mostly from what each fund holds and when each is priced, not from fees.

Start with what separates them: Both funds aim at the whole non-U.S. stock market, so they own nearly the same companies. The difference is the index provider: FTSE for VXUS, MSCI for IXUS. FTSE counts South Korea as developed while MSCI counts it as emerging, and the two providers draw the small-cap line in slightly different places. Then check what you already own: the funds overlap by 90.4%, so holding both adds little.

• Step 1 · Market: VXUS holds stocks from developed and emerging markets outside the United States; IXUS holds stocks from developed and emerging markets outside the United States.
• Step 2 · Cost: VXUS 0.05% vs IXUS 0.07%.
• Step 3 · Concentration: ten largest positions 13.4% vs 12.7%.
• Step 4 · Overlap: use the Diversification Calculator against what you own.

Size the position against your whole portfolio, including any U.S. stock fund you hold.

VXUS and IXUS are U.S.-listed and trade in U.S. dollars, so buying them from a Canadian account usually involves converting Canadian dollars, which adds a cost on both entry and exit. The funds also hold shares priced in euros, yen, pounds and other currencies, so a move in the U.S. dollar changes your return in Canadian dollars as well.

Foreign governments usually withhold tax on dividends paid to the funds before the fund receives them. In a taxable account, part of that tax may be claimable through the foreign tax credit. The treaty exemption that applies to U.S. dividends inside an RRSP generally does not cover foreign withholding on shares of non-U.S. companies, and a TFSA is not exempt either. Rules depend on the fund and the account, so confirm them with a tax professional. This is general education, not tax advice.

Both funds invest in foreign stocks. Their dividends are mostly taxed at ordinary or qualified rates depending on the stock and holding period, and foreign taxes withheld at source can often be claimed back as a foreign tax credit in a taxable U.S. account. Check each fund’s tax documents for details.

For Canadian account types and withholding tax, see the Canadian section above. Confirm the rules for your account with a tax professional, and read how to build an ETF portfolio.

Investors comparing VXUS and IXUS often also look at the other international funds in this group: VXUS, IXUS, VEA, IEFA, VWO and IEMG. See the other International ETFs comparisons and the ETF research hub.

Is VXUS or IXUS better?

In the VXUS vs IXUS question, neither is better for everyone. VXUS and IXUS differ mainly in what they hold and what they charge. Both funds aim at the whole non-U.S. stock market, so they own nearly the same companies. The difference is the index provider: FTSE for VXUS, MSCI for IXUS. FTSE counts South Korea as developed while MSCI counts it as emerging, and the two providers draw the small-cap line in slightly different places.

Expense ratios are 0.05% and 0.07%. Market price total returns, annualized (both to Nov 9, 2026): 1 year 15.06% vs 15.33%; 3 years 19.45% vs 19.65%; 5 years 8.04% vs 8.00%; 10 years 9.32% vs 9.37%. Neither is better for everyone; the choice turns on cost, which markets you want, and what you already own.

VXUS vs IXUS, what are the expense ratios?

VXUS charges 0.05% and IXUS charges 0.07%, which is $5 and $7 a year per $10,000.

VXUS vs IXUS, how much do the funds overlap?

About 90.4% of the weight is held by both funds, matched by ISIN in SEC filings dated Jul 31, 2026. 9 stocks appear in both top-ten lists.

VXUS vs IXUS, what does each ETF track?

VXUS tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index. IXUS tracks the MSCI ACWI ex USA IMI Index.

VXUS vs IXUS, what are the top holdings?

VXUS (Sep 30, 2026): Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 4.24%, Samsung Electronics 2.02%, SK hynix 1.65%, ASML Holding 1.54%, Tencent Holdings 0.76%. IXUS (Nov 6, 2026): Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 3.99%, Samsung Electronics 1.62%, ASML Holding 1.38%, SK hynix 1.15%, Roche Holding 0.83%.

VXUS vs IXUS, which has performed better?

Market price total returns, annualized (both to Nov 9, 2026): 1 year 15.06% vs 15.33%; 3 years 19.45% vs 19.65%; 5 years 8.04% vs 8.00%; 10 years 9.32% vs 9.37%. Returns depend on what each fund holds, and past performance does not guarantee future results.

VXUS vs IXUS, can I own both?

On VXUS vs IXUS, you can, but they overlap by about 90.4%. 9 top-ten stocks are shared. Holding both adds almost no diversification: you are paying for two wrappers around nearly the same portfolio.

VXUS vs IXUS, how often do the funds pay dividends?

VXUS pays quarterly and IXUS pays semi-annual. Trailing yields are 2.39% trailing and 2.13%; check each issuer page for the schedule.

VXUS vs IXUS, are they suitable for Canadian investors?

On VXUS vs IXUS, both are U.S.-listed and trade in U.S. dollars, so Canadians face currency conversion costs and foreign withholding tax on dividends. Treatment differs across TFSA, RRSP and taxable accounts. This is general education, not tax advice.

VXUS vs IXUS, how do the funds differ by sector?

VXUS (Sep 30, 2026): financials 23.1%, information technology 18.7%, industrials 15.2%. IXUS (Nov 6, 2026): financials 23.8%, information technology 16.6%, industrials 14.1%.

Third-party sources

StockAnalysis VXUS · StockAnalysis IXUS · SEC EDGAR Form N-PORT filings.

Methodology and limits

• VXUS figures come from Vanguard fund pages and IXUS figures from iShares fund pages.
• Dates are shown beside each figure; the issuer documents are linked below.
• Holdings overlap uses SEC Form N-PORT equity holdings matched by ISIN: sum of the smaller weight of each security held by both funds. Report dates: Jul 31, 2026. The date gaps, cash, derivatives and unmatched securities make this a floor.
• Vanguard figures come from advisors.vanguard.com; iShares figures from ishares.com including the holdings file; market data (assets, shares, beta, range) from StockAnalysis, dated Nov 9, 2026.
• Sector labels differ by provider (FTSE and MSCI); technology, telecommunications and basic materials were mapped to technology, communication and materials. Cross-provider gaps are approximate.
• Figures that were unavailable are left out, and nothing was filled from memory or from another fund.
• Growth of $10,000 is derived from annualized market price total returns on matched dates; dollar values are approximate.
• Returns are computed from daily adjusted closing prices (distributions reinvested) so both funds share the same dates (the 10-year figure runs from Dec 30, 2016, 9.9 years); the issuers’ own NAV returns are shown beside them with their dates.

Pathways, not rankings or recommendations.