Skip to navigationSkip to main contentSkip to right columnADVERTISEMENTBrendan Coffey, The Motley FoolSat, July 18, 2026 at 5:28 PM GMT+2 5 min readInvestors choosing between Vanguard Total World Stock ETF (NYSEMKT:VT) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (NASDAQ:VXUS) must decide between holding a single-fund global portfolio or using a targeted tool to isolate international exposure.While both funds offer extensive diversification, VT spans the global market by including companies from both the United States and abroad. In contrast, VXUS tracks an index that excludes American firms, making it a common choice for investors who want to avoid overlapping with their existing domestic stock holdings. Both funds prioritize broad equity coverage at extremely low costs.Snapshot (cost & size)MetricVXUSVTIssuerVanguardVanguardShare price$84.06 (as of 2026-07-16)$156.13 (as of 2026-07-16)Expense ratio0.05%0.06%1-yr return (as of July 16, 2026)25.30%22.80%Dividend yield2.60%1.60%Beta0.770.92AUM$651.0 billion$97.0 billionBeta measures price volatility relative to the S&P 500; beta is calculated from monthly returns over the available fund history (up to five years). The 1-yr return represents total return over the trailing 12 months. Dividend yield is the trailing-12-month distribution yield.The expense ratio difference is a negligible 0.01 percentage points, which translates to just $0.10 for every $1,000 invested annually. However, income seekers will notice that the international-only fund currently provides a more significant yield, as foreign markets often prioritize dividend distributions more than the growth-heavy U.S. technology sector.Performance & risk comparisonMetricVXUSVTMax drawdown (5 yr)(29.40%)(26.40%)Growth of $1,000 over 5 years (total return)$1,517$1,675What's insideVanguard Total World Stock ETF — VT — holds 10,024 stocks across global markets. It allocates 31% to technology, 16% to financial services, and 12% to industrials. Largest positions include Nvidia Crp (NASDAQ:NVDA) at 4.00%, Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL) at 3.6%, and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) at 2.4%. It was launched in 2008. Vanguard Total World Stock ETF has paid $2.48 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$156.13 share price works out to a 1.60% yield.Vanguard Total International Stock ETF — VXUS — holds 8,738 stocks excluding U.S. equities. It allocates 23% to technology, 22% to financial services, and 15% to industrials. Top holdings include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing at 4.3%, Samsung Electronics at 2.3%, and SK Hynix at 2.2%. It was launched in 2011. Vanguard Total International Stock ETF has paid $2.19 per share over the trailing 12 months, which on its recent ~$84.06 share price works out to a 2.60% yield.Terms and Privacy PolicyEU DSA contactPrivacy & Cookie SettingsMore Info