SPEM vs VXUS
State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SPEM or VXUS?
VXUS has been ahead.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90.
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 | SPEM | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.07% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $17.9B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.46% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 3,044 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +10.75% | +12.82%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.20% | +19.86%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.02% | +19.33%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.35% | +9.46%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 16.5% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -41.4% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,256 | $15,714Best |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 19, 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).
SPEM 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.
SPEM vs VXUS Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio Emerging Markets ETF (SPEM) 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 SPEM returned +15.20% while VXUS returned +19.86%. Year to date, SPEM is up 10.75% versus a gain of 12.82% for VXUS.
Over three years, SPEM compounded at +18.02% per year against +19.33% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +7.35% and +9.46% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +4.72% annualized vs +3.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.5% 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 -41.4% for SPEM 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 0.90. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPEM charges 0.07% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $7 vs $5 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPEM currently yields 2.46% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 55.5% of SPEM's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 88.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, SPEM as of Mar 31, 2026 and VXUS as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
1,887 positions in common, counted across the 2,856 positions we hold weights for in SPEM and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 3,044 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPEM | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 2.60% | 0.62% | 1.98% |
| 2308:TWDelta Electronics Inc | 1.00% | 0.21% | 0.79% |
| 2454:TWMediatek, Inc. | 0.83% | 0.35% | 0.48% |
| 2317:TWHon Hai Precision Industry Co | 0.79% | 0.21% | 0.58% |
| PDD:IEPdd Holdings Inc. | 0.67% | 0.15% | 0.52% |
| BHARTIARTL:MBBharti Airtel Ltd | 0.57% | 0.14% | 0.43% |
| 1120:SAAl Rajhi Bank | 0.53% | 0.11% | 0.42% |
| 2318:HKPing An Insurance (group) Co. Of China Ltd Class H | 0.47% | 0.11% | 0.36% |
| 500209:MBInfosys Ltd | 0.47% | 0.09% | 0.38% |
| 1211:SASaudi Arabian Mining Co | 0.44% | 0.10% | 0.34% |
55.5% of SPEM is already inside VXUS.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, SPEM or VXUS?
SPEM has an expense ratio of 0.07% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPEM or VXUS?
Over the past year SPEM returned +15.20% vs +19.86% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), SPEM annualized +3.47% vs +4.72% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPEM or VXUS?
SPEM has been the more volatile fund at 16.5% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SPEM -41.4% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both SPEM and VXUS?
SPEM and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.90, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between SPEM and VXUS?
At least 55.5% of SPEM's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 1,887 positions in common, counted across the 2,856 positions we hold weights for in SPEM and 8,082 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPEM or VXUS?
SPEM yields 2.46% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SPEM?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.90. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.