SMMU vs VXUS
PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Active Exchange-Traded Fund vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SMMU or VXUS?
Municipal Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | SMMU | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.2B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.88% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 338 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +0.67% | +14.48%Best |
| 1Y Return | +1.31% | +22.28%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +3.34% | +20.00%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.82% | +8.91%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 1.7%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -5.1%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,944 | $15,323Best |
| Fund Family | PIMCO (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Tax Preferred | Equity |
| Style | Municipal Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 1, 2010 | 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 11, 2026 (15.6 years).
SMMU 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.
SMMU vs VXUS Performance
PIMCO Short Term Municipal Bond Active Exchange-Traded Fund (SMMU) is an ETF from PIMCO (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMMU returned +1.31% while VXUS returned +22.28%. Year to date, SMMU is up 0.67% versus a gain of 14.48% for VXUS.
Over three years, SMMU compounded at +3.34% per year against +20.00% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +1.82% and +8.91% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.82% annualized vs +0.79%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 1.7% for SMMU. 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 -5.1% for SMMU 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 0.39. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SMMU charges 0.35% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $5 annually, a gap of $30 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMMU currently yields 2.88% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 208 holdings in SMMU and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 49.3% and 87.7% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 48 days apart, SMMU as of Aug 17, 2026 and VXUS as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 208 positions we hold weights for in SMMU and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 338 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SMMU 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, SMMU or VXUS?
SMMU has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $30 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SMMU or VXUS?
Over the past year SMMU returned +1.31% vs +22.28% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SMMU annualized +0.79% vs +4.82% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SMMU or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 1.7% for SMMU. Worst drawdown: SMMU -5.1% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both SMMU and VXUS?
SMMU and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.39, 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, SMMU or VXUS?
SMMU yields 2.88% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so SMMU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SMMU?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.