SPGM vs VXUS
State Street SPDR Portfolio MSCI Global Stock Market ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SPGM or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SPGM led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92.
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 | SPGM | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.76% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 2,985 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +13.33% | +13.64%Best |
| 1Y Return | +19.45% | +20.82%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.94%Best | +19.58% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.39%Best | +9.14% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.6%Best | 14.4% |
| Max Drawdown | -34.0%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $17,149Best | $15,485 |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 27, 2012 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 28, 2012 to Sep 17, 2026 (14.6 years).
SPGM 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 14.6 years both funds cover.
SPGM vs VXUS Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio MSCI Global Stock Market ETF (SPGM) 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 SPGM returned +19.45% while VXUS returned +20.82%. Year to date, SPGM is up 13.33% versus a gain of 13.64% for VXUS.
Over three years, SPGM compounded at +20.94% per year against +19.58% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +11.39% and +9.14% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, SPGM has the edge at +9.74% annualized vs +5.58%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.4% compared with 13.6% for SPGM. 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 -34.0% for SPGM 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 0.92. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPGM charges 0.09% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $5 annually, a gap of $4 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPGM currently yields 1.76% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 2,848 holdings in SPGM and 8,082 in VXUS, totalling 94.7% 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, 1,408 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, SPGM 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.
1,408 positions in common, counted across the 2,848 positions we hold weights for in SPGM and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 2,985 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SPGM | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 000660:KRSk Hynix Inc | 0.36% | 1.41% | 1.05% |
| HSBA:LNHsbc Securities Inc | 0.29% | 0.82% | 0.53% |
| NOVN:SMNovartis Ag Ordinary Shares | 0.28% | 0.65% | 0.37% |
| SHELShell Plc | 0.34% | 0.57% | 0.23% |
| RY:CARoyal Bank Of Canada | 0.21% | 0.66% | 0.45% |
| 9988:HKAlibaba Group Holding Limited Ordinary Shares | 0.24% | 0.62% | 0.38% |
| NESN:SMNestle Sa | 0.26% | 0.58% | 0.32% |
| AZN:LNAstraZeneca PLC | 0.22% | 0.57% | 0.35% |
| RD:CAThe Toronto-Dominion Bank | 0.16% | 0.45% | 0.29% |
| ABBN:SMABB Ltd. - Ordinary Shares | 0.23% | 0.34% | 0.11% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPGM 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, SPGM or VXUS?
SPGM has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $4 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPGM or VXUS?
Over the past year SPGM returned +19.45% vs +20.82% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), SPGM annualized +9.74% vs +5.58% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPGM or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.4% annualized versus 13.6% for SPGM. Worst drawdown: SPGM -34.0% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both SPGM and VXUS?
SPGM and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.92, 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, SPGM or VXUS?
SPGM yields 1.76% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SPGM?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SPGM led over 3Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 1Y. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.92. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.