SBND vs VXUS

SBND vs VXUS

Which is better, SBND or VXUS?

Short Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VXUSHigher Returns: VXUS

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

MetricSBNDVXUS
Expense Ratio0.25%0.05%Best
AUM$198M$158.1B
Dividend Yield4.56%2.51%
Holdings1,1748,747
YTD Return+0.67%+12.57%Best
1Y Return+1.73%+19.71%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+5.70%+19.25%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+2.21%+8.59%Best
Volatility (annualized)4.0%Best15.1%
Max Drawdown-10.8%Best-28.9%
$10,000 over 5 years$11,155$15,099Best
Fund FamilyColumbia Threadneedle InvestmentsVanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleShort Term BondLarge Cap Blend
InceptionSep 21, 2021Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 21, 2021 to Sep 15, 2026 (5 years).

SBND 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 5 years both funds cover.

SBND vs VXUS Performance

Columbia Short Duration Bond ETF (SBND) is an ETF from Columbia Threadneedle Investments and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SBND returned +1.73% while VXUS returned +19.71%. Year to date, SBND is up 0.67% versus a gain of 12.57% for VXUS.

Over three years, SBND compounded at +5.70% per year against +19.25% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +2.21% and +8.59% respectively.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 4.0% for SBND. 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 -10.8% for SBND and -28.9% 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

SBND charges 0.25% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $5 annually, a gap of $20 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SBND currently yields 4.56% against 2.51% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 830 holdings in SBND and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 70.4% and 88.8% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1 positions appear in both.

1 positions in common, counted across the 830 positions we hold weights for in SBND and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 1,174 and 8,747.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in SBNDWeight in VXUSDifference
MIN:AUMineral Resources Ltd 9.25% 01Oct20280.05%0.02%0.03%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of SBND and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

SBNDVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SBND or VXUS?

SBND has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $20 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, SBND or VXUS?

Over the past year SBND returned +1.73% vs +19.71% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, SBND or VXUS?

VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.1% annualized versus 4.0% for SBND. Worst drawdown: SBND -10.8% vs VXUS -28.9%.

Should I hold both SBND and VXUS?

SBND and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, SBND or VXUS?

SBND yields 4.56% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so SBND currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than SBND?

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.