VXUS vs XSMO
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF vs Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF
Which is better, VXUS or XSMO?
Large Cap Blend against Small Cap Growth.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and 3Y, XSMO over 5Y 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 | VXUS | XSMO |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.05%Best | 0.36% |
| AUM | $158.1B | $2.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.51% | 0.57% |
| Holdings | 8,747 | 113 |
| YTD Return | +14.94%Best | +13.85% |
| 1Y Return | +21.99%Best | +12.71% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.89%Best | +20.36% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.48% | +10.21%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.0%Best | 19.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -39.9% | -39.8%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,728 | $16,259Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Invesco (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Small Cap Growth |
| Inception | Jan 26, 2011 | Mar 3, 2005 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 28, 2011 to Sep 22, 2026 (15.6 years).
VXUS vs XSMO 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 15.6 years both funds cover.
VXUS vs XSMO Performance
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Invesco S&P SmallCap Momentum ETF (XSMO) is an ETF from Invesco (US). Over the past year VXUS returned +21.99% while XSMO returned +12.71%. Year to date, VXUS is up 14.94% versus a gain of 13.85% for XSMO.
Over three years, VXUS compounded at +20.89% per year against +20.36% for XSMO; over five years the annualized figures are +9.48% and +10.21% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, XSMO has the edge at +11.32% annualized vs +4.84%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
XSMO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.0% 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 -39.9% for VXUS and -39.8% for XSMO. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
VXUS charges 0.05% per year while XSMO charges 0.36%. On a $10,000 position that is $5 vs $36 annually, a gap of $31 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VXUS currently yields 2.51% against 0.57% for XSMO.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.8% of XSMO'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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 8,082 positions we hold weights for in VXUS and 108 in XSMO, against full books of 8,747 and 113.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in VXUS | Weight in XSMO | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIG:LNSignet Jewelers Limited Common Shares | 0.02% | 0.84% | 0.82% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of VXUS and XSMO 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, VXUS or XSMO?
VXUS has an expense ratio of 0.05% while XSMO charges 0.36%. VXUS is the cheaper option, by $31 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, VXUS or XSMO?
Over the past year VXUS returned +21.99% vs +12.71% for XSMO, so VXUS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), VXUS annualized +4.84% vs +11.32% for XSMO. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, VXUS or XSMO?
XSMO has been the more volatile fund at 19.0% annualized versus 15.0% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: VXUS -39.9% vs XSMO -39.8%.
Should I hold both VXUS and XSMO?
VXUS and XSMO have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, VXUS or XSMO?
VXUS yields 2.51% while XSMO yields 0.57%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is XSMO better than VXUS?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. VXUS led over 1Y and 3Y, XSMO over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.