Seeking International Diversification? Is VT or IXUS a Better Core Holding for Long-Term Investors?

VT (Vanguard Total World Stock ETF) and IXUS (iShares Core MSCI Total International Stock ETF) offer different approaches to international diversification. VT includes U.S. equities with 10,000+ holdings and a 0.06% expense ratio, while IXUS focuses exclusively on non-U.S. markets with 4,583 holdings and a higher 3.0% dividend yield. VT has outperformed IXUS on price appreciation over five years (50.2% vs 28.37%), but the choice depends on existing portfolio holdings and income needs.