ISMD vs VXUS
Inspire Small/Mid Cap ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, ISMD or VXUS?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ISMD led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y.
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 | ISMD | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.53% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $341M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.12% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 503 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +26.91%Best | +16.15% |
| 1Y Return | +27.32% | +27.58%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.79% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.48%Best | +9.09% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.0% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.5% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,728Best | $15,450 |
| Fund Family | Inspire ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2017 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2017 to Sep 4, 2026 (9.5 years).
ISMD 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 9.5 years both funds cover.
ISMD vs VXUS Performance
Inspire Small/Mid Cap ETF (ISMD) is an ETF from Inspire ETFs and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ISMD returned +27.32% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, ISMD is up 26.91% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, ISMD compounded at +16.79% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.48% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 10-year window we track, ISMD has the edge at +9.11% annualized vs +8.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ISMD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.0% compared with 15.2% 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 -45.5% for ISMD and -39.9% 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISMD charges 0.53% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $53 vs $5 annually, a gap of $48 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISMD currently yields 1.12% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.6% of ISMD's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, ISMD as of Aug 17, 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 481 positions we hold weights for in ISMD and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 503 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ISMD 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, ISMD or VXUS?
ISMD has an expense ratio of 0.53% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $48 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISMD or VXUS?
Over the past year ISMD returned +27.32% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (10 years), ISMD annualized +9.11% vs +8.43% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ISMD or VXUS?
ISMD has been the more volatile fund at 21.0% annualized versus 15.2% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: ISMD -45.5% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both ISMD and VXUS?
ISMD and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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, ISMD or VXUS?
ISMD yields 1.12% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than ISMD?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. ISMD led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.