SYZ vs VXUS

SYZ vs VXUS

Which is better, SYZ or VXUS?

Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y.

Lower Fees: VXUSHigher Returns (1Y): VXUS

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

MetricSYZVXUS
Expense Ratio0.61%0.05%Best
AUM-$158.1B
Dividend Yield0.24%2.51%
Holdings3868,747
YTD Return+17.61%Best+14.48%
1Y Return+19.40%+22.28%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+20.00%
5Y Return (annualized)-+8.91%
Volatility (annualized)14.1%14.0%Best
Fund FamilyLazard Asset ManagementVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleSmall Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionOct 29, 2021Jan 26, 2011

Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window, Top 10 Weight.

SYZ 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.

SYZ vs VXUS Performance

Lazard US Systematic Small Cap Equity ETF (SYZ) is an ETF from Lazard Asset Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SYZ returned +19.40% while VXUS returned +22.28%. Year to date, SYZ is up 17.61% versus a gain of 14.48% for VXUS.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

SYZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.1% compared with 14.0% for VXUS. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

SYZ charges 0.61% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $61 vs $5 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SYZ currently yields 0.24% against 2.51% for VXUS.

Holdings Overlap

SYZ already in VXUS4.2%

At least 4.2% of SYZ'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.

SYZ and VXUS share little of their money.

The two holdings books were reported 50 days apart, SYZ as of Aug 19, 2026 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.

18 positions in common, counted across the 430 positions we hold weights for in SYZ and 8,091 in VXUS, against full books of 386 and 8,747.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in SYZWeight in VXUSDifference
CG:CACenterra Gold Inc Common Stock0.53%0.01%0.52%
FVI:CAFortuna Silver Mines  Inc .0.46%0.01%0.45%
ERO:CAEro Copper Corp0.43%0.01%0.42%
CCCSCCC Intelligent Solutions Holdings Inc0.33%0.01%0.32%
TFPM:CATriple Flag Precious Met Common Stock0.33%0.00%0.33%
SSRMSsr Mining Inc0.31%0.01%0.30%
MTX:SGMinerals Technologies Inc0.27%0.05%0.22%
FRO:BMFrontline PLC0.23%0.01%0.22%
SOBO:CASouth Bow Corp0.20%0.02%0.18%
DSG:CADescartes Systems Group, Inc.0.20%0.01%0.19%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of SYZ and VXUS you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

SYZVXUS

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, SYZ or VXUS?

SYZ has an expense ratio of 0.61% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, SYZ or VXUS?

Over the past year SYZ returned +19.40% vs +22.28% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, SYZ or VXUS?

SYZ has been the more volatile fund at 14.1% annualized versus 14.0% for VXUS.

Should I hold both SYZ and VXUS?

SYZ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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 SYZ and VXUS?

At least 4.2% of SYZ's money is in holdings VXUS also owns. Our book for VXUS is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 18 positions in common, counted across the 430 positions we hold weights for in SYZ and 8,091 in VXUS.

Which pays a higher dividend, SYZ or VXUS?

SYZ yields 0.24% while VXUS yields 2.51%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VXUS better than SYZ?

VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.