FSMB vs VXUS
First Trust Short Duration Managed Municipal ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, FSMB or VXUS?
Municipal Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | FSMB | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.34% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $623M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.18% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 1,104 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +1.12% | +16.15%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.91% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.35% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.37% | +9.09%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 2.5%Best | 16.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.3%Best | -35.1% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,704 | $15,450Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 1, 2018 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 27, 2018 to Sep 4, 2026 (7.8 years).
FSMB 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
FSMB vs VXUS Performance
First Trust Short Duration Managed Municipal ETF (FSMB) 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 FSMB returned +1.91% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, FSMB is up 1.12% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, FSMB compounded at +3.35% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +1.37% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +10.02% annualized vs +1.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 2.5% for FSMB. 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 -6.3% for FSMB and -35.1% 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FSMB charges 0.34% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $34 vs $5 annually, a gap of $29 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FSMB currently yields 3.18% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 324 holdings in FSMB and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 58.1% and 87.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 324 positions we hold weights for in FSMB and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 1,104 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FSMB and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, FSMB or VXUS?
FSMB has an expense ratio of 0.34% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $29 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FSMB or VXUS?
Over the past year FSMB returned +1.91% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), FSMB annualized +1.50% vs +10.02% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FSMB or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 2.5% for FSMB. Worst drawdown: FSMB -6.3% vs VXUS -35.1%.
Should I hold both FSMB and VXUS?
FSMB and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, FSMB or VXUS?
FSMB yields 3.18% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so FSMB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than FSMB?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.