SCMB vs VXUS
Schwab Municipal Bond ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SCMB or VXUS?
Municipal Bond against Large Cap Blend.
SCMB has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y 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 | SCMB | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.05% |
| AUM | $4.1B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.60% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 6,809 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | -2.24% | +13.64%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.97% | +20.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +2.40% | +19.58%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 6.1%Best | 13.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -6.1%Best | -13.6% |
| $10,000 over 3.9 years | $11,129 | $21,269Best |
| Fund Family | Charles Schwab Investment Mangement | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 11, 2022 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 3.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 12, 2022 to Sep 17, 2026 (3.9 years).
SCMB 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 3.9 years both funds cover.
SCMB vs VXUS Performance
Schwab Municipal Bond ETF (SCMB) is an ETF from Charles Schwab Investment Mangement and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SCMB returned -0.97% while VXUS returned +20.82%. Year to date, SCMB is down 2.24% versus a gain of 13.64% for VXUS.
Over three years, SCMB compounded at +2.40% per year against +19.58% for VXUS. Across the full 4-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +21.35% annualized vs +2.78%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.9% compared with 6.1% for SCMB. 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 -6.1% for SCMB 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCMB charges 0.03% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $5 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCMB currently yields 3.60% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 39 holdings in SCMB and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 1.6% 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 39 positions we hold weights for in SCMB and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 6,809 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCMB | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2302:HKChina West Construction Group Co., Ltd. | 0.01% | 0.00% | 0.01% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCMB 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, SCMB or VXUS?
SCMB has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VXUS charges 0.05%. SCMB is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCMB or VXUS?
Over the past year SCMB returned -0.97% vs +20.82% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (4 years), SCMB annualized +2.78% vs +21.35% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCMB or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 13.9% annualized versus 6.1% for SCMB. Worst drawdown: SCMB -6.1% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both SCMB and VXUS?
SCMB 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, SCMB or VXUS?
SCMB yields 3.60% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so SCMB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SCMB?
SCMB has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.