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

> Source: BetterThanSPY research, https://betterthanspy.com/research/etfs-and-stocks-that-outperform-vxus
> Data as of October 22, 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: Out of over 10,000 stocks and ETFs screened, 316 of 956 eligible ETFs (33%) and 448 of 1,502 eligible stocks (30%) outperformed in at least 3 of 5 short-term and 2 of 3 long-term timeframes. The bar was not easy to clear, though 161 ETFs and 194 stocks were all-weather, outperforming in every long-term timeframe and all but one short-term timeframe.
- Who came out ahead across the three groups:
  - Popular alternatives: DXJ, SPY, URTH, ACWI, and VT all outperformed in 5 of 5 short-term and 3 of 3 long-term timeframes. SCHF and VEA also cleared the bar, while EFA reached 3 of 5 short-term but only 1 of 3 long-term timeframes, and VWO outperformed in none. IXUS was excluded as the one same-index fund.
  - Top ETFs: Technology led the top ETF group, with 5 of the 15 shown in the table. RSPT, FXL, CIBR, and TDIV were technology standouts, and DXJ represented the international category. Overall, 316 ETFs made the cut.
  - Top stocks: A total of 448 stocks made the cut, with the top 10 shown in the table. NTRA, MEDP, and LLY came from Healthcare, while FTNT represented Technology. The displayed leaders also included BWLP from Industrials.
- The risk trade-off: Over 5 years, none of the top ETFs or stocks were less volatile than VXUS. The top ETFs had median volatility of 21.3%, compared with 16.4% for VXUS, while the top stocks had median volatility of 44.6%, roughly double or more. Still, 14 of 15 top ETFs and all 10 top stocks had higher Sharpe ratios than the benchmark, suggesting that most delivered more return per unit of risk over that period.

## 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) |  |  | −5.4% | −1.9% | +0.8% | +8.9% | +14.3% | +75.1% | +47.2% | +137% | 16.4% | 0.56 |
| DXJ: WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | Made the list | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.3% | +0.4% | +10.4% | +23.0% | +34.3% | +125% | +225% | +415% | 19.1% | 1.34 |
| [SPY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/spy): State Street SPDR S&P 500 ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.2% | +2.5% | +8.0% | +12.7% | +15.6% | +88.4% | +80.3% | +316% | 17.2% | 0.78 |
| URTH: iShares MSCI World ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.8% | +1.5% | +6.5% | +11.3% | +15.0% | +83.6% | +68.0% | +243% | 16.3% | 0.72 |
| ACWI: iShares MSCI ACWI ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −3.0% | +0.8% | +5.5% | +11.2% | +14.9% | +83.1% | +63.7% | +223% | 16.2% | 0.69 |
| [VT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vt): Vanguard Total World Stock ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.9% | +0.6% | +4.9% | +11.1% | +14.9% | +82.6% | +62.0% | +220% | 16.2% | 0.68 |
| [SCHF](https://betterthanspy.com/research/schf): Schwab International Equity ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.9% | −1.7% | +2.4% | +11.0% | +17.6% | +79.6% | +56.6% | +154% | 16.8% | 0.62 |
| [VEA](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vea): Vanguard FTSE Developed Markets ETF | Made the list | 4/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.7% | −1.5% | +2.1% | +10.6% | +17.1% | +79.6% | +54.8% | +152% | 16.9% | 0.60 |
| IDV: iShares International Select Dividend ETF | Made the list | 3/5 short, 3/3 long | −3.1% | −1.5% | +0.3% | +10.4% | +21.3% | +105% | +81.7% | +159% | 15.5% | 0.85 |
| DBEF: Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF | Made the list | 5/5 short, 2/3 long | −2.1% | −0.8% | +6.0% | +12.0% | +17.4% | +73.9% | +83.6% | +204% | 13.8% | 0.95 |
| [EFA](https://betterthanspy.com/research/efa): iShares MSCI EAFE ETF | Fell short | 3/5 short, 1/3 long | −3.1% | −1.1% | +2.8% | +8.0% | +13.0% | +70.1% | +50.0% | +138% | 16.6% | 0.57 |
| EEM: iShares MSCI Emerging Markets ETF | Fell short | 2/5 short, 1/3 long | −10.7% | −5.0% | −2.1% | +10.3% | +16.0% | +80.4% | +33.4% | +104% | 20.0% | 0.39 |
| [IEFA](https://betterthanspy.com/research/iefa): iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF | Fell short | 3/5 short, 0/3 long | −3.3% | −1.0% | +2.6% | +8.2% | +13.1% | +71.3% | +48.1% | +140% | 16.6% | 0.56 |
| EFG: iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF | Fell short | 1/5 short, 0/3 long | −3.2% | −1.9% | −0.1% | +3.7% | +4.5% | +49.7% | +16.9% | +110% | 18.5% | 0.26 |
| [VWO](https://betterthanspy.com/research/vwo): Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF | Fell short | 0/5 short, 0/3 long | −7.0% | −3.2% | −3.0% | +3.8% | +6.7% | +63.5% | +27.4% | +95.9% | 17.5% | 0.36 |

## 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) |  | −5.4% | −1.9% | +0.8% | +8.9% | +14.3% | +75.1% | +47.2% | +137% | 16.4% | 0.56 |  |  |
| RSPT: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Technology ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −3.9% | +6.2% | +21.6% | +40.0% | +43.0% | +141% | +116% | +559% | 25.1% | 0.74 | 0.40% | $6.1B |
| FXL: First Trust Technology AlphaDEX Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.1% | +8.6% | +17.8% | +28.7% | +29.3% | +104% | +66.4% | +514% | 26.2% | 0.52 | 0.60% | $2.7B |
| CIBR: First Trust Nasdaq Cybersecurity ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.2% | +15.1% | +49.3% | +45.8% | +35.2% | +134% | +96.7% | +461% | 26.2% | 0.65 | 0.58% | $17B |
| ONEQ: Fidelity Nasdaq Composite Index ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.5% | +1.4% | +5.9% | +12.6% | +15.2% | +104% | +80.9% | +437% | 22.6% | 0.64 | 0.21% | $11B |
| DXJ: WisdomTree Japan Hedged Equity Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −2.3% | +0.4% | +10.4% | +23.0% | +34.3% | +125% | +225% | +415% | 19.1% | 1.34 | 0.48% | $8.1B |
| UGA: United States Gasoline Fund, LP | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.6% | +16.0% | +32.8% | +132% | +125% | +117% | +227% | +401% | 35.1% | 0.85 | 1.08% | $167M |
| TDIV: First Trust NASDAQ Technology Dividend Index Fund | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.5% | +4.2% | +6.8% | +17.8% | +16.4% | +118% | +115% | +384% | 21.3% | 0.83 | 0.50% | $4.4B |
| HACK: Amplify Cybersecurity ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.6% | +15.7% | +51.5% | +54.8% | +42.0% | +142% | +87.4% | +381% | 25.8% | 0.62 | 0.60% | $3.3B |
| BNO: United States Brent Oil Fund LP | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +19.0% | +34.0% | +36.4% | +144% | +139% | +118% | +205% | +359% | 37.1% | 0.79 | 1.15% | $768M |
| IOO: iShares Global 100 ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.9% | +2.9% | +8.2% | +13.3% | +19.6% | +103% | +107% | +357% | 17.2% | 0.94 | 0.40% | $9.2B |
| MGC: Vanguard Morningstar Mega Cap ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −1.9% | +2.8% | +8.4% | +12.6% | +15.7% | +93.4% | +86.0% | +347% | 17.4% | 0.80 | 0.05% | $11B |
| DBJP: Xtrackers MSCI Japan Hedged Equity ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.5% | −0.8% | +8.0% | +19.7% | +27.7% | +110% | +158% | +339% | 19.3% | 1.09 | 0.45% | $726M |
| HEWJ: iShares Currency Hedged MSCI Japan ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −4.3% | −0.8% | +7.8% | +19.7% | +27.4% | +110% | +157% | +336% | 19.4% | 1.07 | 1.02% | $639M |
| CRAK: VanEck Oil Refiners ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.5% | +15.8% | +36.4% | +69.7% | +74.3% | +118% | +143% | +325% | 20.9% | 0.96 | 0.61% | $810M |
| RDVY: First Trust Rising Dividend Achievers ETF | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +0.3% | −0.3% | +6.9% | +14.3% | +20.2% | +89.1% | +71.0% | +321% | 18.8% | 0.67 | 0.47% | $25B |

## 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) |  | −5.4% | −1.9% | +0.8% | +8.9% | +14.3% | +75.1% | +47.2% | +137% | 16.4% | 0.56 |  |
| [NTRA](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ntra): Natera, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +2.7% | +51.9% | +93.2% | +75.4% | +113% | +901% | +249% | +3,934% | 57.6% | 0.73 | $58B |
| [FTNT](https://betterthanspy.com/research/ftnt): Fortinet, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −0.7% | +11.6% | +98.6% | +122% | +104% | +208% | +158% | +2,668% | 44.8% | 0.65 | $127B |
| BWLP: BW LPG Limited | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +1.2% | +20.7% | +46.1% | +116% | +129% | +232% | +966% | +2,648% | 50.9% | 1.19 | $3.8B |
| MEDP: Medpace Holdings, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +3.8% | +23.8% | +28.6% | +14.5% | +19.6% | +187% | +250% | +2,003% | 52.1% | 0.73 | $18B |
| [LLY](https://betterthanspy.com/research/lly): Eli Lilly and Company | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +11.7% | +12.5% | +42.3% | +21.5% | +61.9% | +131% | +461% | +1,870% | 32.8% | 1.22 | $1.2T |
| LPG: Dorian LPG Ltd. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | −3.9% | +19.7% | +49.2% | +123% | +107% | +123% | +817% | +1,827% | 43.6% | 1.24 | $2.2B |
| COKE: Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.5% | +16.7% | +15.1% | +44.1% | +67.4% | +257% | +468% | +1,564% | 38.0% | 1.11 | $14B |
| [MPC](https://betterthanspy.com/research/mpc): Marathon Petroleum Corporation | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +17.9% | +45.8% | +108% | +181% | +148% | +226% | +660% | +1,314% | 33.4% | 1.39 | $129B |
| CVI: CVR Energy, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.5% | +68.6% | +88.5% | +134% | +62.6% | +105% | +289% | +1,306% | 52.4% | 0.79 | $5.9B |
| WSM: Williams-Sonoma, Inc. | 5/5 short, 3/3 long, all-weather | +12.4% | +17.7% | +33.1% | +40.7% | +40.7% | +249% | +202% | +1,298% | 44.4% | 0.72 | $31B |

## What stands out

The ETF leaders point to several sources of strength rather than one narrow theme. Technology was the largest category among the top ETFs, but international funds such as DXJ also ranked well, alongside broad-market and commodity funds. The popular alternatives show that the edge extended beyond a recent burst: DXJ, SPY, URTH, ACWI, and VT outperformed across all the listed short- and long-term timeframes. Other international comparisons were less consistent, with EFA and VWO falling short of the long-term bar.

The stock leaders were spread across Healthcare, Technology, Industrials, Energy, and other sectors, though Healthcare appeared more than once among the displayed names. Their results held across all the listed periods, but the risk figures show a bumpier ride than VXUS. Higher Sharpe ratios for all of the displayed stocks and most of the top ETFs indicate that their stronger returns were not simply a result of taking more risk, though the volatility gap was especially large for stocks.

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## Explore further

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