IAU vs VXUS
iShares Gold Trust vs Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares
Last updated: 2026-04-10
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) is an exchange-traded fund issued by iShares that provides exposure to gold securities. It charges a moderate expense ratio of 0.25%. Launched in 2005, the fund has a 21-year track record.
Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund ETF Shares (VXUS) is an exchange-traded fund issued by Vanguard that provides exposure to international stocks across both developed and emerging markets. It charges a very low expense ratio of 0.05%. The fund offers an attractive dividend yield of 2.82%. Launched in 2011, the fund has a 15-year track record.
Quick Verdict
VXUS is significantly cheaper at 0.05% vs 0.25% expense ratio, saving you approximately $395 per $10,000 invested over 10 years. Over the past year, IAU has significantly outperformed with a 50.0% return vs 39.1%.
Key Metrics
Performance Chart
Indexed to 100 at start (5-year comparison)
Performance Comparison
Fee Impact Over Time
Estimated fee cost difference assuming 8% annual returns
Risk Metrics
Based on 5 years of daily returns
Dividend Comparison
Top Holdings
VXUS Top Holdings
| Name | Weight |
|---|---|
| Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited!tpe/2330 | 3.43% |
| Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.!krx/005930 | 1.59% |
| ASML Holding N.V.!ams/ASML | 1.29% |
| Tencent Holdings Limited!hkg/0700 | 0.92% |
| SK hynix Inc.!krx/000660 | 0.91% |
| Roche Holding AGROC1.L | 0.76% |
| Alibaba Group Holding Limited!otc/BABAF | 0.73% |
| Novartis AG!swx/NOVN | 0.73% |
| HSBC Holdings plc!lon/HSBA | 0.73% |
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose VXUS if...
you want the lowest fees and plan to buy and hold long-term. Over decades, the expense ratio difference compounds significantly.
Choose IAU if...
recent performance momentum matters to your strategy. Note that past performance doesn't guarantee future results.