A Motley Fool comparison favors Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) over Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO), citing broader market exposure and lower costs; as of Sept. 18, 2026, VXUS returned 20.1% over one year, versus 13.7% for VWO.
VXUS holds developed- and emerging-market stocks, while VWO focuses on emerging markets. The article says China makes up 7% of VXUS and 26.5% of VWO; its author cites that concentration, U.S.-China trade issues and Chinese government influence over businesses as risks for VWO.
Over five years, $1,000 grew to $1,540 in VXUS and $1,365 in VWO, according to the comparison. Their maximum drawdowns over that period were 28.8% and 30.2%, respectively; VXUS has 8,602 holdings, compared with 5,942 for VWO.
