Is Vanguard VXUS a good investment?

Yes, this Vanguard ETF could be a good investment if your objectives call for broad international diversification at a low cost.

Can I buy international stocks on Vanguard?

Vanguard brokerage allows for the purchase of certain international stocks listed via American Depositary Receipts (ADRs).

What is the 10-year return of VXUS?

As of May 13, 2026, VXUS had a 10-year annualized return of 9.39% on a net asset value basis. That total return figure includes reinvested dividends and is net of fund fees, but it does not account for taxes.

What stocks does VXUS hold?

VXUS holds more than 8,700 stocks from developed markets such as Japan, the U.K., Canada, France, and Germany, as well as emerging markets such as China, India, Taiwan, Brazil, and South Korea. It spans all 11 market sectors, with a tilt toward financials, industrials, and technology. The ETF includes small-, mid-, and large-cap stocks, though it is weighted more heavily toward larger companies.

What's better, VOO or VXUS?

Comparing the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (NYSEMKT:VOO) to VXUS is an apples versus oranges situation. VOO gives investors exposure to large-cap U.S. companies. VXUS covers international stocks outside the U.S., including both developed and emerging markets. Since there is no overlap, they are better viewed as complements rather than competitors. A diversified portfolio can use VOO for U.S. exposure and VXUS for international diversification.

How to Buy Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS)

How to Invest in Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS)

By Tony Dong – Updated May 13, 2026 at 6:49 PM EST | Fact-checked by Parker Hicks

Key Points

Vanguard Total International Stock ETF offers global equity exposure with a low fee of 0.05%.
The ETF includes over 8,700 stocks across developed and emerging markets.
VXUS provides a dividend yield of 2.78%, with dividends paid quarterly.

If you're concerned about high U.S. market valuations, the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS +0.50%) offers a simple way to diversify your portfolio with international stock exposure.

This ETF is widely considered the go-to option for passive investors who want exposure to global equities, all without the hassle of picking individual international stocks or currency conversion.

It provides broad coverage of both developed and emerging markets, all in one fund, and does so at a very reasonable fee. Here's what you need to know about this top ETF before you invest.

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What is Vanguard Total International Stock ETF?

This Vanguard fund is a passively managed exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, a benchmark covering 98% of the world’s investable market. The fund is market cap-weighted, meaning larger companies are assigned more weight in the portfolio.

The ETF offers broad international diversification, splitting its holdings between developed markets like Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, and Australia, and emerging markets such as China, India, Brazil, Taiwan, and South Africa.

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How to buy Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

Open your brokerage app: Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments.
Search for the ETF: Enter the ticker or ETF name into the search bar to bring up the ETF's trading page.
Decide how many shares to buy: Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this ETF.
Select order type: Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Submit your order: Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Review your purchase: Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Holdings of Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

This Vanguard ETF holds over 8,700 stocks across developed and emerging markets. Its top holdings are a mix of globally recognized companies. Here are some of the largest positions:

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TWSE:2330) - 3.45% of fund
Samsung (KRX:00590) - 1.35%
ASML Holding NV (ASML +4.17%) - 1.27%
Tencent Holdings (SEHK:700) - 0.96%
SK hynix Inc. (KRX:000660) - 0.75%
Novartis AG (NOVN -1.33%) - 0.72%
AstraZeneca (AZN -1.15%) - 0.72%
HSBC Holdings plc (HSBC +0.61%) - 0.69%
Roche Holding (SWX:ROG) - 0.69%
Alibaba Group (SEHK:9988) - 0.69%

About 26% of this ETF's portfolio is allocated to emerging markets, with the remainder in developed markets. The highest country weights include Japan, Korea, China, the United Kingdom, Taiwan, and Canada.

Sector-wise, this Vanguard ETF leans on financials, industrials, and technology. The average company in this ETF has a median market cap of $46.1 billion, with an average price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 16.9x with 13% return on equity (ROE).

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NASDAQ: VXUS

Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

Today's Change

(0.50%) $0.44

Current Price

$88.41

Key Data Points

AUM

$646B

Dividend Yield

2.48%

Expense Ratio

0.05%

Top Holdings

2330.TW

4.02%

005930.KS

1.80%

ASML.AS

1.42%

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Does Vanguard Total International Stock ETF pay a dividend?

Yes, this ETF pays a dividend, currently offering a trailing 12-month yield of 2.78%, according to Morningstar. International stocks tend to yield more than U.S. equities on average, so the yield for this ETF rivals that of some U.S. dividend ETFs. Dividends are distributed quarterly.

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What is Vanguard Total International Stock ETF's expense ratio?

VXUS has a low expense ratio of 0.05% annually, meaning you'd pay just $5 per year for every $10,000 invested. This fee isn't paid upfront but is deducted from the ETF's performance on the back end over time.

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Historical performance of Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

Here's a look at the annualized total return for this Vanguard ETF (i.e., with dividends reinvested) over various trailing periods.

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Annualized total returns as of May 13th 2026:
Metric	1-yr	3-yr	5-yr	10-yr
Net Asset Value (NAV)	34.20%	17.68%	8.63%	9.39%
Market Price	33.78%	17.69%	8.62%	9.37%

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The bottom line on the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

This Vanguard ETF remains a top choice for passive investors seeking cost-effective and broad international diversification. With exposure to over 8,600 stocks for an expense ratio of just 0.05%, it's tough to beat.

This ETF doesn't take any active bets, instead buying the entire haystack of investable non-U.S. markets at market-cap weights. It provides coverage of virtually all developed and emerging market countries, so there’s no need to worry about which one will outperform.

For most investors, this ETF works best when paired with a broad U.S. market index ETF. The exact weighting depends on your preferences, but a simple 50/50 split between U.S. and international equities can serve as a reasonable starting point for global diversification.

However, it may be less suitable for investors who are bullish on U.S. equities and prefer to focus solely on domestic markets. Similarly, if you want to screen international stocks for specific traits -- such as a particular investment style (value, growth, or dividends), or size (small- and mid-caps) -- you might find this Vanguard ETF too broad.

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Investing in Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) FAQs

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HSBC Holdings is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Tony Dong has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends ASML, AstraZeneca Plc, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, and Tencent. The Motley Fool recommends Alibaba Group and HSBC Holdings. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

How to Invest in Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS)

Key Points

What is Vanguard Total International Stock ETF?

How to buy Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

Holdings of Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

NASDAQ: VXUS

Key Data Points

Does Vanguard Total International Stock ETF pay a dividend?

What is Vanguard Total International Stock ETF's expense ratio?

Historical performance of Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

The bottom line on the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

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Investing in Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) FAQs

Is Vanguard VXUS a good investment?

Is Vanguard VXUS a good investment?

Can I buy international stocks on Vanguard?

Can I buy international stocks on Vanguard?

What is the 10-year return of VXUS?

What is the 10-year return of VXUS?

What stocks does VXUS hold?

What stocks does VXUS hold?

What's better, VOO or VXUS?

What's better, VOO or VXUS?

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What is Vanguard Total International Stock ETF?

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Holdings of Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

NASDAQ: VXUS

Key Data Points

Does Vanguard Total International Stock ETF pay a dividend?

What is Vanguard Total International Stock ETF's expense ratio?

Historical performance of Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

The bottom line on the Vanguard Total International Stock ETF

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Investing in Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) FAQs

Is Vanguard VXUS a good investment?

Is Vanguard VXUS a good investment?

Can I buy international stocks on Vanguard?

Can I buy international stocks on Vanguard?

What is the 10-year return of VXUS?

What is the 10-year return of VXUS?

What stocks does VXUS hold?

What stocks does VXUS hold?

What's better, VOO or VXUS?

What's better, VOO or VXUS?