SMOM vs VXUS

SMOM vs VXUS

Which is better, SMOM or VXUS?

VXUS has been ahead.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y.

Lower Fees: VXUSHigher Returns (1Y): VXUS

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

MetricSMOMVXUS
Expense Ratio0.63%0.05%Best
AUM$73M$158.1B
Dividend Yield0.15%2.59%
Holdings68,747
YTD Return+13.71%+16.15%Best
1Y Return+16.60%+27.58%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+20.48%
5Y Return (annualized)-+9.09%
Volatility (annualized)10.6%Best13.8%
Fund FamilySymmetry PartnersVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionSep 9, 2025Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

SMOM 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.

SMOM vs VXUS Performance

Symmetry Panoramic Sector Momentum ETF (SMOM) is an ETF from Symmetry Partners and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMOM returned +16.60% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, SMOM is up 13.71% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.8% compared with 10.6% for SMOM. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

SMOM charges 0.63% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $63 vs $5 annually, a gap of $58 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMOM currently yields 0.15% against 2.59% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 6 holdings in SMOM and 8,094 in VXUS, totalling 100.2% 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 50 days apart, SMOM as of Aug 19, 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 6 positions we hold weights for in SMOM and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 6 and 8,747.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of SMOM and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

SMOMVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SMOM or VXUS?

SMOM has an expense ratio of 0.63% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $58 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, SMOM or VXUS?

Over the past year SMOM returned +16.60% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, SMOM or VXUS?

VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 13.8% annualized versus 10.6% for SMOM.

Should I hold both SMOM and VXUS?

SMOM and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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, SMOM or VXUS?

SMOM yields 0.15% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than SMOM?

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.