VOO vs VXUS: Not a Choice, a Split
Almost every VOO vs VXUS comparison treats them as rivals. They hold zero overlapping stocks. One is the US large-cap market, the other is every market that is not the US. The real question is what share of your equity sits in each.
VOO (Vanguard S&P 500 ETF) holds the 503 largest US companies at 0.03%. VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock ETF) holds roughly 8,500 companies across developed and emerging markets outside the US at 0.07%. Their overlap is zero by construction, which makes "which is better" the wrong question. Held together they approximate global equity, and the only decision that matters is the weighting. Global market-cap weight puts international at roughly 40% of world equity, and Vanguard's own target-date funds use an allocation in that neighborhood. Many US investors run 20% to 30% instead, accepting home-country bias for simplicity. US stocks have substantially outperformed international since 2010, which makes any international allocation look like a mistake in hindsight; international outperformed for much of the 2000s, which is the argument for holding some. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Whether the lower-cost fund suits your situation depends on your existing holdings, account type, tax situation, and how you use each fund. This is a cost comparison, not a personalized recommendation.
Both funds trade commission-free at every major brokerage. How the major brokerages compare →
📋 VOO vs VXUS — Key Facts Side by Side
| Metric | VOO | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Fund Name | Vanguard S&P 500 ETF | Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares |
| Issuer | Vanguard | Vanguard |
| Tracks Index | S&P 500 | FTSE Global All Cap ex US |
| Expense Ratio | 0.03% ✓ | 0.07% |
| Cost per $10K/yr | $3.00 | $7.00 |
| AUM | $1,600.2B | $629.1B |
| Holdings | 503 | 8,500 |
| Inception | 2010 | 2011 |
| 1-Year Return | +19.31% | +24.22% |
| 3-Year Return | +19.09% | +16.84% |
| 5-Year Return | +12.66% | +8.83% |
| Dividend Yield | 1.07% | 2.56% |
| Holdings Overlap | See holdings overlap → | |
| Avg Bid-Ask Spread | 0.01% | 0.02% |
Expense ratio, AUM, and returns updated Aug 1, 2026 from ETF BFF database. Returns are annualised. Not investment advice.
📊 VOO vs VXUS — Annualised Returns
Annualised returns (trailing, price-based). Past performance does not guarantee future results.
🎯 Which Fund Fits Which Investor?
- want the lowest fees: saves ~$4/yr per $10K vs VXUS
- want focused large-cap US stock exposure via S&P 500
- want broader diversification (8,500 holdings vs 503)
- want geographic diversification beyond US stocks
💰 What the Fee Difference Actually Costs
Adjust the numbers for your situation. This models each fund's expense ratio compounding against your balance over time.
Assumes a constant annual return reinvested, with each fund's expense ratio deducted yearly. Illustrative only; actual returns vary. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
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❓ VOO vs VXUS — Frequently Asked Questions
New to ETF investing? See answers to the most common ETF questions →