SPDW vs VXUS
State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SPDW or VXUS?
Nearly the same fund. SPDW costs less.
SPDW has a lower expense ratio. SPDW led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99.
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 | SPDW | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.05% |
| AUM | $42.1B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.92% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 2,440 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +14.53%Best | +12.82% |
| 1Y Return | +22.40%Best | +19.86% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.50%Best | +19.33% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.82%Best | +9.46% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -38.8%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,974Best | $15,714 |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 20, 2007 | 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 18, 2026 (15.6 years).
SPDW 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.
SPDW vs VXUS Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Developed World ex-US ETF (SPDW) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPDW returned +22.40% while VXUS returned +19.86%. Year to date, SPDW is up 14.53% versus a gain of 12.82% for VXUS.
Over three years, SPDW compounded at +19.50% per year against +19.33% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +9.82% and +9.46% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, SPDW has the edge at +5.28% annualized vs +4.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPDW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 15.0% 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 -38.8% for SPDW 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 0.99. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPDW charges 0.03% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $5 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPDW currently yields 2.92% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2,129 holdings in SPDW and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 86.3% and 88.8% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 1,452 positions appear in both.
1,452 positions in common, counted across the 2,129 positions we hold weights for in SPDW and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 2,440 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPDW | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc Common Stock Krw5000.0 | 1.89% | 1.41% | 0.48% |
| HSBA:LNHsbc Securities Inc | 1.02% | 0.82% | 0.20% |
| ROP:SMRoche Holding Ag Common Stock Chf.001 | 0.90% | 0.69% | 0.21% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag – Class N | 0.81% | 0.65% | 0.16% |
| SHELShell Plc | 0.76% | 0.57% | 0.19% |
| NESN:SMNestle Sa Reg Common Stock Chf.1 | 0.73% | 0.58% | 0.15% |
| AZN:LNAstraZeneca PLC | 0.73% | 0.57% | 0.16% |
| SIE:SGSiemens Ag Reg Common Stock | 0.71% | 0.54% | 0.17% |
| RD:CAThe Toronto-Dominion Bank | 0.58% | 0.45% | 0.13% |
| CBA:AUCommonwealth Bank Of Australia | 0.55% | 0.47% | 0.08% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPDW 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, SPDW or VXUS?
SPDW has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VXUS charges 0.05%. SPDW is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPDW or VXUS?
Over the past year SPDW returned +22.40% vs +19.86% for VXUS, so SPDW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SPDW annualized +5.28% vs +4.72% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPDW or VXUS?
SPDW has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SPDW -38.8% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both SPDW and VXUS?
SPDW and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.99, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPDW or VXUS?
SPDW yields 2.92% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so SPDW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SPDW?
SPDW has a lower expense ratio. SPDW led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.99. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.