SCZ vs VXUS
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SCZ or VXUS?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SCZ led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95.
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 | SCZ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $13.1B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.07% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 2,080 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +12.13% | +14.94%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.10% | +21.99%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.66% | +20.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.47% | +9.48%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -44.6% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,051 | $15,728Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 10, 2007 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 22, 2026 (15.6 years).
SCZ 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
SCZ vs VXUS Performance
iShares MSCI EAFE Small-Cap ETF (SCZ) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SCZ returned +16.10% while VXUS returned +21.99%. Year to date, SCZ is up 12.13% versus a gain of 14.94% for VXUS.
Over three years, SCZ compounded at +18.66% per year against +20.89% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +5.47% and +9.48% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SCZ has the edge at +5.76% annualized vs +4.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SCZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 15.0% 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 -44.6% for SCZ 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 0.95. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SCZ charges 0.40% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $5 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SCZ currently yields 3.07% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1,663 holdings in SCZ and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 90.4% 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, 1,284 positions appear in both.
1,284 positions in common, counted across the 1,663 positions we hold weights for in SCZ and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 2,080 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SCZ | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIR:NZAir New Zealand Ltd | 0.01% | 0.31% | 0.30% |
| IMI:LNImi Plc | 0.27% | 0.02% | 0.25% |
| WEIR:LNWeir Group Plc/the | 0.27% | 0.02% | 0.25% |
| BSL:AUBlueScope Steel Ltd. Shs New | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.24% |
| RMS:AURamelius Resources Ltd | 0.14% | 0.14% | 0.00% |
| 6963:JPRohm Co Ltd | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.24% |
| BEZ:LNBeazley Plc | 0.26% | 0.02% | 0.24% |
| 5831:JPShizuoka Financial Group,Inc. Com Stk | 0.25% | 0.02% | 0.23% |
| NDA:BEAurubis Ag | 0.12% | 0.15% | 0.03% |
| GTT:PAGaztransport Et Technigaz Sa | 0.24% | 0.02% | 0.22% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SCZ 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, SCZ or VXUS?
SCZ has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SCZ or VXUS?
Over the past year SCZ returned +16.10% vs +21.99% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SCZ annualized +5.76% vs +4.84% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SCZ or VXUS?
SCZ has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SCZ -44.6% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both SCZ and VXUS?
SCZ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.95, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SCZ or VXUS?
SCZ yields 3.07% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so SCZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SCZ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SCZ led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.95. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.