The Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VO) and the iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) are both among the Top 100 ETFs. VO is a Vanguard Mid-Cap Blend fund and IXUS is a iShares Foreign Large Blend fund. So, what’s the difference between VO and IXUS? And which fund is better?
The expense ratio of VO is 0.05 percentage points lower than IXUS’s (0.04% vs. 0.09%). VO also has a higher exposure to the technology sector and a higher standard deviation. Overall, VO has provided higher returns than IXUS over the past ten years.
In this article, we’ll compare VO vs. IXUS. We’ll look at holdings and fund composition, as well as at their annual returns and portfolio growth. Moreover, I’ll also discuss VO’s and IXUS’s risk metrics, industry exposure, and performance and examine how these affect their overall returns.
Summary
| VO | IXUS | |
| Name | Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares | iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF |
| Category | Mid-Cap Blend | Foreign Large Blend |
| Issuer | Vanguard | iShares |
| AUM | 154.08B | 29.54B |
| Avg. Return | 14.34% | 6.09% |
| Div. Yield | 1.23% | 2.13% |
| Expense Ratio | 0.04% | 0.09% |
The Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VO) is a Mid-Cap Blend fund that is issued by Vanguard. It currently has 154.08B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 14.34% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 1.23% with an expense ratio of 0.04%.
The iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) is a Foreign Large Blend fund that is issued by iShares. It currently has 29.54B total assets under management and has yielded an average annual return of 6.09% over the past 10 years. The fund has a dividend yield of 2.13% with an expense ratio of 0.09%.
VO’s dividend yield is 0.90% lower than that of IXUS (1.23% vs. 2.13%). Also, VO yielded on average 8.25% more per year over the past decade (14.34% vs. 6.09%). The expense ratio of VO is 0.05 percentage points lower than IXUS’s (0.04% vs. 0.09%).
FYI: The best way I've found to invest in ETFs is through M1 Finance. It's free and you even get an instant line of credit! Have a look here (link to M1 Finance).
Fund Composition
Industry Exposure
| VO | IXUS | |
| Technology | 22.01% | 13.24% |
| Industrials | 11.92% | 12.78% |
| Energy | 3.82% | 4.39% |
| Communication Services | 5.61% | 7.09% |
| Utilities | 5.12% | 2.95% |
| Healthcare | 13.03% | 9.29% |
| Consumer Defensive | 3.25% | 8.19% |
| Real Estate | 8.67% | 3.66% |
| Financial Services | 11.08% | 17.34% |
| Consumer Cyclical | 12.12% | 12.57% |
| Basic Materials | 3.36% | 8.5% |
The Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VO) has the most exposure to the Technology sector at 22.01%. This is followed by Healthcare and Consumer Cyclical at 13.03% and 12.12% respectively. Basic Materials (3.36%), Energy (3.82%), and Utilities (5.12%) only make up 12.30% of the fund’s total assets.
VO’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Communication Services, Real Estate, Financial Services, Industrials, and Consumer Cyclical stocks at 5.61%, 8.67%, 11.08%, 11.92%, and 12.12%.
The iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) has the most exposure to the Financial Services sector at 17.34%. This is followed by Technology and Industrials at 13.24% and 12.78% respectively. Real Estate (3.66%), Energy (4.39%), and Communication Services (7.09%) only make up 15.14% of the fund’s total assets.
IXUS’s mid-section with moderate exposure is comprised of Consumer Defensive, Basic Materials, Healthcare, Consumer Cyclical, and Industrials stocks at 8.19%, 8.5%, 9.29%, 12.57%, and 12.78%.
VO is 8.77% more exposed to the Technology sector than IXUS (22.01% vs 13.24%). VO’s exposure to Healthcare and Consumer Cyclical stocks is 3.74% higher and 0.45% lower respectively (13.03% vs. 9.29% and 12.12% vs. 12.57%). In total, Basic Materials, Energy, and Utilities also make up 3.54% less of the fund’s holdings compared to IXUS (12.30% vs. 15.84%).
Holdings
| VO Holdings | Weight |
| IDEXX Laboratories Inc | 0.78% |
| DocuSign Inc | 0.75% |
| Marvell Technology Inc | 0.68% |
| IQVIA Holdings Inc | 0.68% |
| Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc | 0.63% |
| Veeva Systems Inc Class A | 0.62% |
| Digital Realty Trust Inc | 0.62% |
| Centene Corp | 0.62% |
| Aptiv PLC | 0.62% |
| Carrier Global Corp Ordinary Shares | 0.61% |
VO’s Top Holdings are IDEXX Laboratories Inc, DocuSign Inc, Marvell Technology Inc, IQVIA Holdings Inc, and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc at 0.78%, 0.75%, 0.68%, 0.68%, and 0.63%.
Veeva Systems Inc Class A (0.62%), Digital Realty Trust Inc (0.62%), and Centene Corp (0.62%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Aptiv PLC and Carrier Global Corp Ordinary Shares are also represented in the VO’s holdings at 0.62% and 0.61%.
| IXUS Holdings | Weight |
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd | 1.64% |
| Tencent Holdings Ltd | 1.35% |
| Alibaba Group Holding Ltd Ordinary Shares | 1.34% |
| Nestle SA | 1.1% |
| Samsung Electronics Co Ltd | 1.06% |
| ASML Holding NV | 0.9% |
| Roche Holding AG | 0.81% |
| LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE | 0.67% |
| Novartis AG | 0.62% |
| Toyota Motor Corp | 0.59% |
IXUS’s Top Holdings are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd, Tencent Holdings Ltd, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd Ordinary Shares, Nestle SA, and Samsung Electronics Co Ltd at 1.64%, 1.35%, 1.34%, 1.1%, and 1.06%.
ASML Holding NV (0.9%), Roche Holding AG (0.81%), and LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE (0.67%) have a slightly smaller but still significant weight. Novartis AG and Toyota Motor Corp are also represented in the IXUS’s holdings at 0.62% and 0.59%.
NOTE: The easiest way to add diversification to your portfolio is to invest in real estate through Fundrise. You can become private real estate investor without the burden of property management! Check it out here (link to Fundrise).
Risk Analysis
| VO | IXUS | |
| Mean Return | 1.14 | 0 |
| R-squared | 92.22 | 0 |
| Std. Deviation | 15.65 | 0 |
| Alpha | -2.71 | 0 |
| Beta | 1.11 | 0 |
| Sharpe Ratio | 0.83 | 0 |
| Treynor Ratio | 11.32 | 0 |
The Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares (VO) has a Treynor Ratio of 11.32 with a Mean Return of 1.14 and a Standard Deviation of 15.65. Its Alpha is -2.71 while VO’s Beta is 1.11. Furthermore, the fund has a R-squared of 92.22 and a Sharpe Ratio of 0.83.
The iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF (IXUS) has a Alpha of 0 with a Treynor Ratio of 0 and a Sharpe Ratio of 0. Its R-squared is 0 while IXUS’s Beta is 0. Furthermore, the fund has a Standard Deviation of 0 and a Mean Return of 0.
VO’s Mean Return is 1.14 points higher than that of IXUS and its R-squared is 92.22 points higher. With a Standard Deviation of 15.65, VO is slightly more volatile than IXUS. The Alpha and Beta of VO are 2.71 points lower and 1.11 points higher than IXUS’s Alpha and Beta.
FYI: Another great way to get exposure to the real estate sector is by investing in real estate debt. Groundfloor offers fantastic short-term, high-yield bonds that can add diversification to your portfolio!
Performance
Annual Returns
| Year | VO | IXUS |
| 2020 | 18.22% | 11.14% |
| 2019 | 31.04% | 21.85% |
| 2018 | -9.21% | -14.55% |
| 2017 | 19.25% | 28.08% |
| 2016 | 11.23% | 4.66% |
| 2015 | -1.34% | -4.62% |
| 2014 | 13.76% | -3.96% |
| 2013 | 35.15% | 15.85% |
| 2012 | 15.98% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | -1.96% | 0.0% |
| 2010 | 25.57% | 0.0% |
VO had its best year in 2013 with an annual return of 35.15%. VO’s worst year over the past decade yielded -9.21% and occurred in 2018. In most years the Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund ETF Shares provided moderate returns such as in 2014, 2012, and 2020 where annual returns amounted to 13.76%, 15.98%, and 18.22% respectively.
The year 2017 was the strongest year for IXUS, returning 28.08% on an annual basis. The poorest year for IXUS in the last ten years was 2018, with a yield of -14.55%. Most years the iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF has given investors modest returns, such as in 2011, 2010, and 2016, when gains were 0.0%, 0.0%, and 4.66% respectively.
Portfolio Growth
| Fund | Initial Balance | Final Balance | CAGR |
| VO | $10,000 | $20,938 | 14.34% |
| IXUS | $10,000 | $14,209 | 6.09% |
A $10,000 investment in VO would have resulted in a final balance of $20,938. This is a profit of $10,938 over 7 years and amounts to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.34%.
With a $10,000 investment in IXUS, the end total would have been $14,209. This equates to a $4,209 profit over 7 years and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.09%.
VO’s CAGR is 8.25 percentage points higher than that of IXUS and as a result, would have yielded $6,729 more on a $10,000 investment. Thus, VO outperformed IXUS by 8.25% annually.
Current recommendations:
Over the past years, I have discovered several tools and products that have helped me tremendously on my path to financial freedom:
P.S.: The links below are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you when you sign up for one of the services. Thank you for your support!
1)Personal Capital is simply the best tool out there to track your net worth and plan for financial freedom. Just their retirement planner alone has become an invaluable tool to keep myself on track financially. Try it out, it's free!
2) Take a look at M1 Finance, my favorite broker. I love how easy it is to invest and maintain my portfolio with them. I can set up automatic transfers, rebalance my portfolio with one click and even borrow up to 35% of my assets at super low interest rates!
3) Fundrise is by far the best way I've found to invest in Real Estate. You can diversify your portfolio by investing in their eREITs or even allocate capital to individual properties (without the hassle of managing tenants!).
4) Groundfloor is another great way to get exposure to the real estate sector by investing in short-term, high-yield real estate debt. Current returns are >10% and you can get started with just $10.
5) If you are interested in startup investing, check out Mainvest. I've started allocating a small amount of assets to invest in and support small businesses. Return targets are between 10-25% and you can start with just $100!
To see all of my most up-to-date recommendations, check out the Recommended Tools section.
I started this blog because I believe that money is just a means to an end: to be free to spend your time as you wish, to maximize your positive impact on the world.
To track my progress towards complete financial independence I use Personal Capital. Most of my monthly surplus I invest in Vanguard ETFs with M1 Finance. I use the dividends (plus their 'borrow' option) to invest in real estate deals with Fundrise.
Finally, I invest the real estate distributions into startups using Mainvest and high-yield real estate debt with Groundfloor.
