SAMM vs VXUS
Strategas Macro Momentum ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SAMM or VXUS?
Each has led over a different period.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SAMM led over 1Y, VXUS over 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 | SAMM | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | $38M | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.88% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 41 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +14.12%Best | +10.00% |
| 1Y Return | +20.79%Best | +17.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.2% | 11.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -24.6% | -13.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 2.5 years | $14,155 | $14,924Best |
| Fund Family | Strategas Asset Management, LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 3, 2024 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 4, 2024 to Oct 14, 2026 (2.5 years).
SAMM 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 2.5 years both funds cover.
SAMM vs VXUS Performance
Strategas Macro Momentum ETF (SAMM) is an ETF from Strategas Asset Management, LLC and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SAMM returned +20.79% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, SAMM is up 14.12% versus a gain of 10.00% for VXUS.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
SAMM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.2% compared with 11.4% 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 -24.6% for SAMM and -13.6% 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
SAMM 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, SAMM currently yields 0.88% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 40 holdings in SAMM and 8,425 in VXUS, totalling 99.3% and 91.3% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 40 positions we hold weights for in SAMM and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 41 and 8,844.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of SAMM 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, SAMM or VXUS?
SAMM 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, SAMM or VXUS?
Over the past year SAMM returned +20.79% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so SAMM leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, SAMM or VXUS?
SAMM has been the more volatile fund at 15.2% annualized versus 11.4% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SAMM -24.6% vs VXUS -13.6%.
Should I hold both SAMM and VXUS?
SAMM and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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, SAMM or VXUS?
SAMM yields 0.88% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SAMM?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SAMM led over 1Y, VXUS over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.