SPSM vs VXUS
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SPSM or VXUS?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
SPSM has a lower expense ratio. SPSM led over 1Y and the full window, VXUS over 3Y and 5Y.
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 | SPSM | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Best | 0.05% |
| AUM | $16.7B | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.40% | 2.51% |
| Holdings | 611 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +16.39%Best | +12.57% |
| 1Y Return | +20.09%Best | +19.71% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.82% | +19.25%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.69% | +8.59%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.4% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -44.4% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,824 | $15,099Best |
| Fund Family | State Street Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 8, 2013 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 9, 2013 to Sep 15, 2026 (13.2 years).
SPSM 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 13.2 years both funds cover.
SPSM vs VXUS Performance
State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 600 Small Cap ETF (SPSM) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPSM returned +20.09% while VXUS returned +19.71%. Year to date, SPSM is up 16.39% versus a gain of 12.57% for VXUS.
Over three years, SPSM compounded at +14.82% per year against +19.25% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +6.69% and +8.59% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPSM has the edge at +8.60% annualized vs +6.10%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SPSM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.4% compared with 14.5% 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 -44.4% for SPSM 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
SPSM 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, SPSM currently yields 1.40% against 2.51% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.5% of SPSM'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.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
4 positions in common, counted across the 601 positions we hold weights for in SPSM and 8,082 in VXUS, against full books of 611 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SPSM 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, SPSM or VXUS?
SPSM has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VXUS charges 0.05%. SPSM is the cheaper option, by $2 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SPSM or VXUS?
Over the past year SPSM returned +20.09% vs +19.71% for VXUS, so SPSM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), SPSM annualized +8.60% vs +6.10% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SPSM or VXUS?
SPSM has been the more volatile fund at 19.4% annualized versus 14.5% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SPSM -44.4% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both SPSM and VXUS?
SPSM 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, SPSM or VXUS?
SPSM yields 1.40% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SPSM?
SPSM has a lower expense ratio. SPSM led over 1Y and the full window, VXUS over 3Y and 5Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.