Investors Ditch US Stocks As International ETFs Hit 52-Week Highs, Here's What's Driving The Portfolio Pivot
Growing Interest in International ETFs: A significant number of US-listed international ETFs have reached 52-week highs, indicating a shift in investor focus towards global equities as U.S. stocks lag behind, driven by valuation discounts and geopolitical realignments.
Long-term Strategic Rebalancing: Analysts suggest that the current trend towards international investments is still in its early stages, reflecting a fundamental rethinking of portfolio construction aimed at achieving greater geographical diversification amidst changing economic realities.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Analyst Views on VXUS
About the author

- Operation Epic Fury: The scale of Operation Epic Fury has exceeded expectations, surprising military analysts who anticipated its occurrence.
- Military Analysts' Reaction: Analysts were taken aback by the magnitude of the operation, indicating it was larger than they had predicted.
Investment Opportunity: The Lazard International Dynamic Equity exchange-traded fund is highlighted as a strong choice for investors looking for international stocks post-Iran war decline.
Advantages Over Index Funds: This fund offers exposure to various countries and sectors similar to foreign index funds, but it focuses on higher-quality stocks.
Market Dynamics: The article questions whether the current stock market trends represent a genuine rotation or are simply erratic fluctuations akin to a carnival ride.
Personal Reflection: The author expresses regret over their investment choices, likening the experience to regretting a poor food choice at a fair.
- Overall Performance: 2025 was a strong year for both stock and bond funds, despite facing some challenges throughout the year.
- Final Quarter Success: The last quarter of 2025 continued the positive trend, contributing to the solid performance of these funds.
International Stock Performance: In 2025, international stocks, particularly in export-driven countries like Korea and China, experienced strong gains, surpassing the performance of the S&P 500 despite high U.S. tariffs.
Future Market Outlook: There is potential for further rallies in non-U.S. markets in 2026, driven by decreasing interest rates and increasing corporate earnings.
Comparison of VXUS and VT: VXUS offers a higher dividend yield and lower expense ratio than VT, which includes U.S. stocks, while VXUS focuses solely on international equities, leading to different sector exposures and performance profiles.
Investment Focus: VT provides broad global exposure, including 63% in U.S. stocks, making it suitable for investors seeking both international and U.S. equity exposure, whereas VXUS targets only non-U.S. markets, appealing to those already heavily invested in U.S. equities.
Performance and Risk: While both funds are passively managed and highly liquid, VT has shown higher five-year growth and shallower drawdowns, whereas VXUS has performed better over the past year but carries greater recent volatility.
Investor Considerations: Investors should evaluate their specific goals, as the choice between VXUS and VT should consider factors beyond performance and yield, including portfolio composition and desired market exposure.











