SILJ vs VXUS
Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SILJ or VXUS?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SILJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VXUS over 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 | SILJ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.69% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $3.9B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.30% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 138 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +7.10% | +12.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | +36.77%Best | +19.97% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +50.87%Best | +20.14% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.84%Best | +8.87% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 48.0% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -79.0% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,718Best | $15,295 |
| Fund Family | Amplify ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 28, 2012 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 29, 2012 to Sep 23, 2026 (13.8 years).
SILJ 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 13.8 years both funds cover.
SILJ vs VXUS Performance
Amplify Junior Silver Miners ETF (SILJ) is an ETF from Amplify ETFs and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SILJ returned +36.77% while VXUS returned +19.97%. Year to date, SILJ is up 7.10% versus a gain of 12.88% for VXUS.
Over three years, SILJ compounded at +50.87% per year against +20.14% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +19.84% and +8.87% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +5.99% annualized vs +3.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SILJ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 48.0% compared with 14.4% 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 -79.0% for SILJ 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 0.46. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SILJ charges 0.69% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $69 vs $5 annually, a gap of $64 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SILJ currently yields 2.30% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 52.7% of SILJ's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 88.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
18 positions in common, counted across the 66 positions we hold weights for in SILJ and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 138 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SILJ | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AG:CAFirst Majestic Silver Corp | 10.31% | 0.02% | 10.29% |
| WPM:CAWheaton Precious Metals Corp | 5.59% | 0.11% | 5.48% |
| SSRMSsr Mining Inc | 4.78% | 0.01% | 4.77% |
| BOL:STBoliden Ab | 4.08% | 0.03% | 4.05% |
| AYA:CAAya Gold & Silver Inc. | 3.64% | 0.01% | 3.63% |
| PPTA:CAPerpetua Resources Corp | 3.20% | 0.00% | 3.20% |
| SVM:CASilvercorp Metals Inc | 3.01% | 0.00% | 3.01% |
| PAAS:CAPan American Silver Corp. | 2.93% | 0.04% | 2.89% |
| SA:CASeabridge Gold Inc | 2.88% | 0.01% | 2.87% |
| FNV:CAFranco-Nevada Corp | 2.30% | 0.09% | 2.21% |
52.7% of SILJ is already inside VXUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SILJ or VXUS?
SILJ has an expense ratio of 0.69% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $64 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SILJ or VXUS?
Over the past year SILJ returned +36.77% vs +19.97% for VXUS, so SILJ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), SILJ annualized +3.43% vs +5.99% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SILJ or VXUS?
SILJ has been the more volatile fund at 48.0% annualized versus 14.4% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SILJ -79.0% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both SILJ and VXUS?
SILJ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.46, 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 SILJ and VXUS?
At least 52.7% of SILJ's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 66 positions we hold weights for in SILJ and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, SILJ or VXUS?
SILJ yields 2.30% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SILJ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SILJ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VXUS over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.