SMDV vs VXUS
Proshares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SMDV or VXUS?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SMDV led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y.
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 | SMDV | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $709M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.32% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 101 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +10.38% | +12.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.20% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +10.58% | +20.14%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.90% | +8.87%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.1% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,319 | $15,295Best |
| Fund Family | ProShares | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 3, 2015 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 5, 2015 to Sep 23, 2026 (11.6 years).
SMDV 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 11.6 years both funds cover.
SMDV vs VXUS Performance
Proshares Russell 2000 Dividend Growers ETF (SMDV) is an ETF from ProShares and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMDV returned +9.20% while VXUS returned +19.97%. Year to date, SMDV is up 10.38% versus a gain of 12.88% for VXUS.
Over three years, SMDV compounded at +10.58% per year against +20.14% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +5.90% and +8.87% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, SMDV has the edge at +7.50% annualized vs +6.26%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMDV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% compared with 14.8% 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 -34.1% for SMDV 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMDV 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, SMDV currently yields 2.32% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.1% of SMDV'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.
SMDV and VXUS share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 97 positions we hold weights for in SMDV and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 101 and 8,747.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 97 and 8,082 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 35 positions SMDV does not, 2.3% of the fund.
Largest: MKL 0.76%, SHEL 0.57%, VWO 0.11%, JD 0.09%, ALC 0.08%
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SMDV | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SCLStepan Co | 1.14% | 0.00% | 1.14% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SMDV 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, SMDV or VXUS?
SMDV 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, SMDV or VXUS?
Over the past year SMDV returned +9.20% vs +19.97% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), SMDV annualized +7.50% vs +6.26% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMDV or VXUS?
SMDV has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 14.8% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SMDV -34.1% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both SMDV and VXUS?
SMDV and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, 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 SMDV and VXUS?
At least 1.1% of SMDV's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 97 positions we hold weights for in SMDV and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, SMDV or VXUS?
SMDV yields 2.32% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SMDV?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SMDV led over the full window, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.