RCTR vs VXUS
First Trust Bloomberg Nuclear Power ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, RCTR or VXUS?
VXUS has been ahead.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | RCTR | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $30M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 100 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +0.87% | +14.48%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.33% | +22.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.00% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.91% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.6% | 13.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -19.0% | -11.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,184 | $13,051Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2025 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 31, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.1 years).
RCTR vs VXUS growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.1 years both funds cover.
RCTR vs VXUS Performance
First Trust Bloomberg Nuclear Power ETF (RCTR) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year RCTR returned +8.33% while VXUS returned +22.28%. Year to date, RCTR is up 0.87% versus a gain of 14.48% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
RCTR has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.6% compared with 13.1% for VXUS. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -19.0% for RCTR and -11.3% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
RCTR charges 0.70% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $5 annually, a gap of $65 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, RCTR currently yields 0.62% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 42.5% of RCTR's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 63 days apart, RCTR as of Sep 1, 2026 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
22 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in RCTR and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 100 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in RCTR | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| BHP:AUBHP Group Limited Ordinary Shares | 5.08% | 0.30% | 4.78% |
| RR:LNRolls-Royce Plc | 4.64% | 0.36% | 4.28% |
| 034020:KRDoosan Co Ltd | 4.82% | 0.06% | 4.76% |
| 7011:JPMitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Com Stk | 4.65% | 0.17% | 4.48% |
| CCO:CACameco Corp Common Stock | 4.51% | 0.10% | 4.41% |
| 003816:SHCgn Power Co Ltd | 2.40% | 0.00% | 2.40% |
| NXE:CANexgen Energy Ltd | 2.21% | 0.01% | 2.20% |
| FOT:FIFortum Oyj | 1.69% | 0.02% | 1.67% |
| 1072:HKDongfang Electric Corp Ltd | 1.49% | 0.00% | 1.49% |
| 2727:HKShanghai Electric Group Co Ltd | 1.35% | 0.00% | 1.35% |
42.5% of RCTR is already inside VXUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, RCTR or VXUS?
RCTR has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $65 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, RCTR or VXUS?
Over the past year RCTR returned +8.33% vs +22.28% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), RCTR annualized +10.71% vs +27.39% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, RCTR or VXUS?
RCTR has been the more volatile fund at 24.6% annualized versus 13.1% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: RCTR -19.0% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both RCTR and VXUS?
RCTR and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between RCTR and VXUS?
At least 42.5% of RCTR's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 22 positions in common, counted across the 45 positions we hold weights for in RCTR and 8,091 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, RCTR or VXUS?
RCTR yields 0.62% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than RCTR?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.