SAWG vs VXUS
AAM Sawgrass US Large Cap Quality Growth ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SAWG or VXUS?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y 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 | SAWG | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.25% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 45 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +8.30% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +12.13% | +22.44%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.82% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.1% | 11.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -18.7% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $12,658 | $14,776Best |
| Fund Family | Advisors Asset Management, Inc. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 31, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (2.1 years).
SAWG 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
SAWG vs VXUS Performance
AAM Sawgrass US Large Cap Quality Growth ETF (SAWG) is an ETF from Advisors Asset Management, Inc. and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SAWG returned +12.13% while VXUS returned +22.44%. Year to date, SAWG is up 8.30% versus a gain of 13.35% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SAWG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.1% compared with 11.7% 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 -18.7% for SAWG and -13.6% 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 0.63. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SAWG charges 0.49% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $5 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SAWG currently yields 0.25% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 19.3% of SAWG's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
SAWG and VXUS share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, SAWG 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.
491 positions in common, counted across the 1,155 positions we hold weights for in SAWG and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 45 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SAWG | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASML:ASAsml Holding N.V. | 0.85% | 1.70% | 0.85% |
| HSBA:LNHsbc Holdings Plc | 0.42% | 0.72% | 0.30% |
| RY:CARoyal Bank of Canada | 0.36% | 0.64% | 0.28% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag Ordinary Shares | 0.33% | 0.65% | 0.32% |
| AZN:LNAstrazeneca Plc | 0.28% | 0.62% | 0.34% |
| SIE:SGSiemens N Ag | 0.28% | 0.52% | 0.24% |
| 8306:JPMitsubishi Ufj Financial Group, Inc. | 0.29% | 0.48% | 0.19% |
| SAN:MABanco Santander | 0.25% | 0.45% | 0.20% |
| 8035:JPTokyo Electron Ltd | 0.20% | 0.47% | 0.27% |
| 285A:JPKioxia Holdings Corp | 0.14% | 0.43% | 0.29% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SAWG 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, SAWG or VXUS?
SAWG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SAWG or VXUS?
Over the past year SAWG returned +12.13% vs +22.44% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SAWG annualized +11.88% vs +20.43% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SAWG or VXUS?
SAWG has been the more volatile fund at 12.1% annualized versus 11.7% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SAWG -18.7% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both SAWG and VXUS?
SAWG and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.63, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SAWG and VXUS?
At least 19.3% of SAWG's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 491 positions in common, counted across the 1,155 positions we hold weights for in SAWG and 8,091 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, SAWG or VXUS?
SAWG yields 0.25% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SAWG?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.