SVAL vs VXUS
iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SVAL or VXUS?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SVAL led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 3Y.
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 | SVAL | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $213M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.05% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 262 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +27.64%Best | +16.15% |
| 1Y Return | +30.52%Best | +27.58% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.14% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.19%Best | +9.09% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.8% | 15.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -27.4%Best | -29.4% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,245Best | $15,450 |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 27, 2020 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 29, 2020 to Sep 4, 2026 (5.8 years).
SVAL 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 5.8 years both funds cover.
SVAL vs VXUS Performance
iShares US Small Cap Value Factor ETF (SVAL) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SVAL returned +30.52% while VXUS returned +27.58%. Year to date, SVAL is up 27.64% versus a gain of 16.15% for VXUS.
Over three years, SVAL compounded at +19.14% per year against +20.48% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +10.19% and +9.09% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, SVAL has the edge at +17.38% annualized vs +12.90%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SVAL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.8% 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 -27.4% for SVAL and -29.4% 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 0.66. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SVAL charges 0.20% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $5 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SVAL currently yields 2.05% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.2% of SVAL'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.
SVAL and VXUS share little of their money.
3 positions in common, counted across the 240 positions we hold weights for in SVAL and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 262 and 8,747.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SVAL 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, SVAL or VXUS?
SVAL has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, SVAL or VXUS?
Over the past year SVAL returned +30.52% vs +27.58% for VXUS, so SVAL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), SVAL annualized +17.38% vs +12.90% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SVAL or VXUS?
SVAL has been the more volatile fund at 21.8% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SVAL -27.4% vs VXUS -29.4%.
Should I hold both SVAL and VXUS?
SVAL and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.66, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between SVAL and VXUS?
At least 1.2% of SVAL's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 3 positions in common, counted across the 240 positions we hold weights for in SVAL and 8,094 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, SVAL or VXUS?
SVAL yields 2.05% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SVAL?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SVAL led over 1Y, 5Y and the full window, VXUS over 3Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.