VAMO vs VXUS
Cambria Value and Momentum ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, VAMO or VXUS?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VAMO led over 5Y, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and 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 | VAMO | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $87M | $158.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.61% | 2.59% |
| Holdings | 103 | 8,747 |
| YTD Return | +7.41% | +15.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.84% | +27.46%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.05% | +20.30%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.43%Best | +8.96% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9%Best | 14.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -41.8% | -39.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,422Best | $15,358 |
| Fund Family | Cambria Investment Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 8, 2015 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 9, 2015 to Sep 3, 2026 (11 years).
VAMO 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 11 years both funds cover.
VAMO vs VXUS Performance
Cambria Value and Momentum ETF (VAMO) is an ETF from Cambria Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year VAMO returned +14.84% while VXUS returned +27.46%. Year to date, VAMO is up 7.41% versus a gain of 15.57% for VXUS.
Over three years, VAMO compounded at +13.05% per year against +20.30% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +10.43% and +8.96% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VXUS has the edge at +7.81% annualized vs +4.66%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 12.9% for VAMO. 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 -41.8% for VAMO 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VAMO charges 0.65% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $5 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VAMO currently yields 0.61% against 2.59% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of VAMO'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 57 days apart, VAMO as of Aug 26, 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 101 positions we hold weights for in VAMO and 8,094 in VXUS, against full books of 103 and 8,747.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VAMO | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CASHMeta Financial Group Inc | 0.85% | 0.00% | 0.85% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VAMO 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, VAMO or VXUS?
VAMO has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VXUS charges 0.05%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VAMO or VXUS?
Over the past year VAMO returned +14.84% vs +27.46% for VXUS, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), VAMO annualized +4.66% vs +7.81% for VXUS. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VAMO or VXUS?
VXUS has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 12.9% for VAMO. Worst drawdown: VAMO -41.8% vs VXUS -39.9%.
Should I hold both VAMO and VXUS?
VAMO and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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, VAMO or VXUS?
VAMO yields 0.61% while VXUS yields 2.59%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than VAMO?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VAMO led over 5Y, VXUS over 1Y, 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.