SPLG vs VXUS
SPDR(R) Portfolio S&P 500 ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SPLG or VXUS?
SPLG has been ahead.
SPLG has a lower expense ratio. SPLG led over the full window.
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 | SPLG | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.02%Best | 0.05% |
| AUM | - | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | - | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 506 | 8,747 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.6%Best | 15.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -33.9%Best | -39.9% |
| $10,000 over 14.8 years | $53,580Best | $17,541 |
| Fund Family | - | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | - | Equity |
| Style | - | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | - | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized), Top 10 Weight.
The two price series end 309 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. SPLG has data through Oct 30, 2025 and VXUS through Sep 4, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 14.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Oct 30, 2025 (14.8 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.0% compared with 14.6% for SPLG. 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 -33.9% for SPLG 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 0.76. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SPLG charges 0.02% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $2 vs $5 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of SPLG's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 87.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 365 days apart, SPLG as of Jun 30, 2025 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 506 positions we hold weights for in SPLG and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 506 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPLG 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, SPLG or VXUS?
SPLG has an expense ratio of 0.02% while VXUS charges 0.05%. SPLG is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, SPLG or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 15.0% annualized versus 14.6% for SPLG. Worst drawdown: SPLG -33.9% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both SPLG and VXUS?
SPLG and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.76, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Is VXUS better than SPLG?
SPLG has a lower expense ratio. SPLG led over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.