SMRI vs VXUS

SMRI vs VXUS

Which is better, SMRI or VXUS?

SMRI has been ahead.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SMRI led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VXUSHigher Returns: SMRI

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

MetricSMRIVXUS
Expense Ratio0.71%0.05%Best
AUM$720M$158.1B
Dividend Yield0.78%2.51%
Holdings528,747
YTD Return+32.16%Best+14.48%
1Y Return+38.96%Best+22.28%
3Y Return (annualized)-+20.00%
5Y Return (annualized)-+8.91%
Volatility (annualized)15.9%11.1%Best
Max Drawdown-18.1%-13.6%Best
$10,000 over 2.6 years$18,559Best$16,316
Fund FamilyBushido CapitalVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionSep 14, 2023Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 7, 2024 to Sep 11, 2026 (2.6 years).

SMRI 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 2.6 years both funds cover.

SMRI vs VXUS Performance

Bushido Capital US Equity ETF (SMRI) is an ETF from Bushido Capital and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SMRI returned +38.96% while VXUS returned +22.28%. Year to date, SMRI is up 32.16% versus a gain of 14.48% for VXUS.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SMRI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 11.1% 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 -18.1% for SMRI 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 0.48. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

SMRI charges 0.71% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $71 vs $5 annually, a gap of $66 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SMRI currently yields 0.78% against 2.51% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 51 holdings in SMRI and 8,091 in VXUS, totalling 100.0% 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 62 days apart, SMRI as of Aug 31, 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 51 positions we hold weights for in SMRI and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 52 and 8,747.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

SMRIVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SMRI or VXUS?

SMRI has an expense ratio of 0.71% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $66 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, SMRI or VXUS?

Over the past year SMRI returned +38.96% vs +22.28% for VXUS, so SMRI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, SMRI or VXUS?

SMRI has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 11.1% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SMRI -18.1% vs VXUS -13.6%.

Should I hold both SMRI and VXUS?

SMRI and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.48, 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, SMRI or VXUS?

SMRI yields 0.78% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than SMRI?

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SMRI 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.