SMLL vs VXUS
Harbor Active Small Cap ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SMLL or VXUS?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y 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 | SMLL | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $14M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.49% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 51 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +2.14% | +12.88%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.92% | +19.97%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.14% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.87% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.4% | 12.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -23.6% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.1 years | $10,519 | $14,524Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 27, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 29, 2024 to Sep 23, 2026 (2.1 years).
SMLL 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 2.1 years both funds cover.
SMLL vs VXUS Performance
Harbor Active Small Cap ETF (SMLL) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMLL returned -4.92% while VXUS returned +19.97%. Year to date, SMLL is up 2.14% versus a gain of 12.88% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMLL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.4% compared with 12.0% 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 -23.6% for SMLL 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMLL charges 0.80% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $5 annually, a gap of $75 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMLL currently yields 1.49% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 51 holdings in SMLL and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 97.6% and 88.8% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in SMLL and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 51 and 8,747.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 51 and 8,082 positions we hold weights for.
VXUS holds 35 positions SMLL does not, 2.3% of the fund.
Largest: MKL 0.76%, SHEL 0.57%, VWO 0.11%, JD 0.09%, ALC 0.08%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SMLL 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, SMLL or VXUS?
SMLL has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $75 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMLL or VXUS?
Over the past year SMLL returned -4.92% vs +19.97% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), SMLL annualized +2.44% vs +19.45% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMLL or VXUS?
SMLL has been the more volatile fund at 17.4% annualized versus 12.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SMLL -23.6% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both SMLL and VXUS?
SMLL and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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, SMLL or VXUS?
SMLL yields 1.49% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SMLL?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.