SMLV vs VXUS
State Street SPDR US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SMLV or VXUS?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SMLV led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y.
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 | SMLV | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.12% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $258M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.21% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 401 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +21.25%Best | +15.71% |
| 1Y Return | +21.01% | +25.07%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.68% | +20.30%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.49%Best | +9.21% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.5% | 14.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -42.9% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,735Best | $15,535 |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 20, 2013 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 21, 2013 to Sep 8, 2026 (13.5 years).
SMLV 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 13.5 years both funds cover.
SMLV vs VXUS Performance
State Street SPDR US Small Cap Low Volatility Index ETF (SMLV) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMLV returned +21.01% while VXUS returned +25.07%. Year to date, SMLV is up 21.25% versus a gain of 15.71% for VXUS.
Over three years, SMLV compounded at +18.68% per year against +20.30% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.49% and +9.21% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, SMLV has the edge at +8.57% annualized vs +6.00%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SMLV has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.5% 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 -42.9% for SMLV 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMLV charges 0.12% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $12 vs $5 annually, a gap of $7 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMLV currently yields 2.21% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.7% of SMLV's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 396 positions we hold weights for in SMLV and 8,092 in VXUS, against full books of 401 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SMLV 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, SMLV or VXUS?
SMLV has an expense ratio of 0.12% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $7 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMLV or VXUS?
Over the past year SMLV returned +21.01% vs +25.07% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), SMLV annualized +8.57% vs +6.00% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMLV or VXUS?
SMLV has been the more volatile fund at 17.5% annualized versus 14.4% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SMLV -42.9% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both SMLV and VXUS?
SMLV and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, SMLV or VXUS?
SMLV yields 2.21% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SMLV?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SMLV led over 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y and 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.