# ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VXUS (International Stocks)

> Source: EasyCompare research, https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vxus
> Data as of October 20, 2026. Total returns include reinvested dividends. Past performance does not predict future results; nothing here is investment advice.

VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock ETF) screened against the entire market of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs over 8 periods from 1 month to 10 years, with dividends reinvested. To make the list, an investment had to outperform VXUS in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods. "All-weather" means outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Returns in the tables are total returns over each period; volatility and Sharpe ratio cover 5 years.

## Key findings

- How hard it was to top VXUS: The screen covered over 10,000 stocks and ETFs, and outperformance was not common. Of 956 eligible ETFs, 297, or 31%, topped VXUS in at least 3 of 5 short-term periods and 2 of 3 long-term periods; 139 were all-weather, outperforming in every long-term period and all but one short-term period. Among 1,502 eligible stocks, 409, or 27%, met the consistency rule, and 183 were all-weather.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
  - Popular alternatives: DXJ and SPY topped VXUS in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods. URTH, ACWI, and VT each outperformed in 4 of 5 short-term periods and all 3 long-term periods. VEA fell short with 2 of 5 short-term periods, despite topping VXUS in all 3 long-term periods. IXUS was excluded as a same-index fund.
  - Top ETFs: Broad-market and technology funds led the displayed group, with 7 Broad Market and 4 Technology funds among the top ETFs. RSPT, QQQ, FXL, and CIBR each outperformed in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
  - Top stocks: 409 stocks met the consistency rule. The leading names included healthcare companies NTRA and LLY, technology company FTNT, and industrials company BWLP; each topped VXUS in all 5 short-term and all 3 long-term periods.
- The risk trade-off: The top ETFs and stocks had higher volatility than VXUS over 5 years, and none of the displayed top ETFs or stocks were less volatile. Still, 14 of 15 top ETFs and all 10 top stocks had higher Sharpe ratios than the benchmark, meaning most delivered more return per unit of risk despite larger price swings.

## How popular alternatives compare

| Investment | Status | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| VXUS: Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (benchmark) |  |  | −3.9% | +1.0% | +0.9% | +10.2% | +14.6% | +77.2% | +48.6% | +140% | 16.4% | 0.57 |
| DXJ: WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | Made the list | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | 0.0% | +4.7% | +9.9% | +25.0% | +36.4% | +127% | +225% | +428% | 19.1% | 1.34 |
| [SPY](https://easycompare.io/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.6% | +3.9% | +9.1% | +13.5% | +15.8% | +89.3% | +81.7% | +321% | 17.1% | 0.79 |
| URTH: iShares MSCI World ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.1% | +3.1% | +6.8% | +11.9% | +14.9% | +84.5% | +69.3% | +245% | 16.3% | 0.73 |
| ACWI: iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.9% | +2.8% | +6.2% | +12.1% | +15.1% | +84.5% | +65.1% | +227% | 16.2% | 0.70 |
| [VT](https://easycompare.io/research/vt): Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.9% | +2.5% | +5.5% | +12.0% | +15.0% | +83.8% | +63.3% | +223% | 16.2% | 0.69 |
| IDV: iShares International Select Dividend ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −2.9% | +1.0% | 0.0% | +11.1% | +22.0% | +105% | +82.6% | +159% | 15.5% | 0.86 |
| [SCHF](https://easycompare.io/research/schf): Schwab International Equity ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −3.8% | +0.7% | +1.7% | +11.7% | +17.3% | +80.9% | +57.7% | +155% | 16.8% | 0.63 |
| [VEA](https://easycompare.io/research/vea): Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 3/3 long | −3.5% | +1.0% | +1.4% | +11.5% | +17.0% | +81.0% | +55.9% | +153% | 16.9% | 0.61 |
| DBEF: Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | −1.0% | +1.5% | +5.3% | +12.8% | +17.7% | +74.6% | +85.0% | +206% | 13.8% | 0.96 |
| EEM: iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 1/3 long | −8.0% | −0.4% | +0.7% | +13.2% | +17.6% | +84.9% | +35.7% | +110% | 20.0% | 0.41 |
| [EFA](https://easycompare.io/research/efa): iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 1/3 long | −2.3% | +1.1% | +1.4% | +8.6% | +12.5% | +71.2% | +51.0% | +139% | 16.6% | 0.58 |
| [IEFA](https://easycompare.io/research/iefa): iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | −2.4% | +1.2% | +1.3% | +8.8% | +12.8% | +72.4% | +49.0% | +140% | 16.6% | 0.56 |
| EFG: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | −1.8% | +0.4% | −1.1% | +4.5% | +4.1% | +51.3% | +18.5% | +111% | 18.5% | 0.28 |
| [VWO](https://easycompare.io/research/vwo): Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −4.7% | +0.7% | −0.8% | +6.4% | +8.3% | +67.2% | +29.1% | +102% | 17.5% | 0.38 |

## ETFs that consistently outperformed VXUS

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | Expense | Assets |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| VXUS: Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (benchmark) |  | −3.9% | +1.0% | +0.9% | +10.2% | +14.6% | +77.2% | +48.6% | +140% | 16.4% | 0.57 |  |  |
| RSPT: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.8% | +8.4% | +24.4% | +41.0% | +42.9% | +141% | +119% | +572% | 25.1% | 0.75 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| [QQQ](https://easycompare.io/research/qqq): Invesco QQQ Trust, Series 1 | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −3.2% | +3.2% | +11.2% | +17.4% | +17.9% | +106% | +97.2% | +553% | 23.0% | 0.71 | 0.18% | $492B |
| FXL: First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.5% | +10.4% | +18.9% | +28.7% | +28.3% | +103% | +68.2% | +523% | 26.2% | 0.53 | 0.60% | $2.7B |
| CIBR: First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.6% | +9.4% | +49.9% | +42.4% | +31.9% | +127% | +93.2% | +454% | 26.1% | 0.64 | 0.58% | $17B |
| ONEQ: Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.5% | +3.7% | +8.6% | +14.4% | +15.9% | +107% | +83.6% | +453% | 22.5% | 0.65 | 0.21% | $11B |
| DXJ: WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | 0.0% | +4.7% | +9.9% | +25.0% | +36.4% | +127% | +225% | +428% | 19.1% | 1.34 | 0.48% | $8.1B |
| [SPYG](https://easycompare.io/research/spyg): State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 500 Growth ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.4% | +4.0% | +9.9% | +13.9% | +15.8% | +110% | +86.5% | +418% | 21.5% | 0.69 | 0.04% | $57B |
| VOOG: Vanguard S&P 500 Growth ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.3% | +4.0% | +9.9% | +13.9% | +15.8% | +110% | +86.0% | +416% | 21.6% | 0.69 | 0.07% | $28B |
| [IVW](https://easycompare.io/research/ivw): iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.4% | +4.0% | +9.8% | +13.8% | +15.7% | +109% | +85.3% | +413% | 21.5% | 0.68 | 0.18% | $77B |
| IUSG: iShares Core S&P U.S. Growth ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.3% | +3.8% | +9.4% | +13.9% | +15.9% | +107% | +83.7% | +405% | 21.2% | 0.68 | 0.04% | $33B |
| UGA: United States Gasoline Fund, LP | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.9% | +16.9% | +40.5% | +130% | +130% | +111% | +221% | +399% | 35.1% | 0.84 | 1.08% | $167M |
| TDIV: First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.7% | +5.3% | +8.6% | +17.7% | +15.2% | +117% | +111% | +388% | 21.3% | 0.81 | 0.50% | $4.4B |
| IOO: iShares Global 100 ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.1% | +4.6% | +9.3% | +14.2% | +19.9% | +105% | +107% | +361% | 17.2% | 0.94 | 0.40% | $9.2B |
| MGC: Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.0% | +4.4% | +10.0% | +13.6% | +16.0% | +94.9% | +87.8% | +353% | 17.4% | 0.81 | 0.05% | $11B |
| DBJP: Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.7% | +3.4% | +8.5% | +21.9% | +29.0% | +113% | +159% | +348% | 19.2% | 1.09 | 0.45% | $726M |

## Stocks that consistently outperformed VXUS

| Investment | Periods outperformed | 1M | 3M | 6M | YTD | 1Y | 3Y | 5Y | 10Y | Volatility | Sharpe | Market cap |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| VXUS: Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (benchmark) |  | −3.9% | +1.0% | +0.9% | +10.2% | +14.6% | +77.2% | +48.6% | +140% | 16.4% | 0.57 |  |
| [NTRA](https://easycompare.io/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +9.5% | +54.6% | +95.4% | +77.4% | +115% | +896% | +261% | +3,841% | 57.6% | 0.74 | $59B |
| BWLP: BW LPG Limited | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.7% | +22.6% | +44.0% | +117% | +136% | +230% | +958% | +2,672% | 50.9% | 1.19 | $3.8B |
| [FTNT](https://easycompare.io/research/ftnt): Fortinet, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.5% | +6.6% | +107% | +119% | +101% | +203% | +156% | +2,626% | 44.8% | 0.65 | $125B |
| [LLY](https://easycompare.io/research/lly): Eli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +10.2% | +12.1% | +40.0% | +19.4% | +59.7% | +124% | +451% | +1,807% | 32.8% | 1.21 | $1.2T |
| CORT: Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +2.4% | +27.2% | +151% | +205% | +48.2% | +317% | +498% | +1,593% | 75.9% | 0.81 | $13B |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.3% | +17.3% | +14.9% | +42.9% | +61.7% | +255% | +461% | +1,569% | 38.0% | 1.10 | $14B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +16.4% | +79.1% | +106% | +147% | +78.5% | +115% | +304% | +1,424% | 52.3% | 0.80 | $6.2B |
| [MPC](https://easycompare.io/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +18.1% | +51.1% | +123% | +191% | +159% | +234% | +690% | +1,387% | 33.4% | 1.41 | $133B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.2% | +14.1% | +26.5% | +37.0% | +35.6% | +238% | +199% | +1,268% | 44.4% | 0.71 | $30B |
| HALO: Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.6% | +61.3% | +78.8% | +76.9% | +87.1% | +254% | +226% | +1,196% | 40.4% | 0.79 | $14B |

## What stands out

The ETF leaders included broad-market and technology funds, while the standout stocks came from several sectors, including healthcare, technology, industrials, energy, and consumer staples. Their lead was not limited to recent performance: each stock named above and the four ETFs highlighted outperformed VXUS across all 3 long-term periods as well as all 5 short-term periods. The results point to strength across different types of investments, though the top stocks are individual companies rather than a broad portfolio.

The ride was bumpier than VXUS's. Over 5 years, the median volatility was 21.5% for the top ETFs and 44.6% for the top stocks, compared with 16.4% for VXUS. Their median Sharpe ratios were also higher, at 0.71 for ETFs and 0.80 for stocks, compared with 0.57 for VXUS. That suggests the winners generally delivered stronger returns relative to their risk, but the higher volatility still meant wider price swings.

## More research

- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed SPY (S&P 500)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-spy)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VOO (S&P 500)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-voo)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed VTI (Total US Stock Market)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vti)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed QQQ (Nasdaq-100)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-qqq)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed DIA (Dow Jones Industrial Average)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-dia)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed IWM (Russell 2000 Small Caps)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-iwm)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed NVDA (Nvidia)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-nvda)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AAPL (Apple)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-aapl)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed MSFT (Microsoft)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-msft)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed AMZN (Amazon)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-amzn)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed GOOG (Alphabet)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-goog)
- [ETFs and Stocks That Consistently Outperformed META (Meta Platforms)](https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-meta)

## Explore further

- Full page: https://easycompare.io/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vxus
- All research pages: https://easycompare.io/llms.txt