SYZ vs VXUS
Lazard US Systematic Small Cap Equity ETF vs Vanguard Total International Stock ETF
Which is better, SYZ or VXUS?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SYZ 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 | SYZ | VXUS |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.61% | 0.05%Best |
| AUM | - | $163.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.45% | 2.34% |
| Holdings | 386 | 8,844 |
| YTD Return | +14.09%Best | +10.00% |
| 1Y Return | +18.01%Best | +17.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +19.55% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +8.55% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.3% | 14.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -8.0%Best | -11.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,616 | $11,733Best |
| Fund Family | Lazard Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 29, 2021 | Jan 26, 2011 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 15, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.1 years).
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 covers the 1.1 years both funds cover.
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 +18.01% while VXUS returned +17.01%. Year to date, SYZ is up 14.09% versus a gain of 10.00% 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 14.3% compared with 14.2% 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 -8.0% for SYZ and -11.3% 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 0.77. 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 0.45% against 2.34% for VXUS.
Holdings Overlap
At least 3.8% of SYZ's money is in holdings VXUS also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VXUS, our book for it covers 91.3% 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.
16 positions in common, counted across the 430 positions we hold weights for in SYZ and 8,425 in VXUS, against full books of 386 and 8,844.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in SYZ | Weight in VXUS | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CG:CACenterra Gold Inc Common Stock | 0.53% | 0.01% | 0.52% |
| FVI:CAFortuna Mining Corp | 0.46% | 0.01% | 0.45% |
| ERO:CAEro Copper Corp | 0.43% | 0.01% | 0.42% |
| CCCSCcc Intelligent Solutions Hold | 0.33% | 0.01% | 0.32% |
| TFPM:CATriple Flag Precious Met Common Stock | 0.33% | 0.00% | 0.33% |
| SSRMSsr Mining Inc | 0.31% | 0.02% | 0.29% |
| FRO:BMFrontline PLC | 0.23% | 0.01% | 0.22% |
| DSG:CADescartes Systems Group, Inc. | 0.20% | 0.02% | 0.18% |
| SOBO:CASouth Bow Corp | 0.20% | 0.02% | 0.18% |
| GFL:CAGfl Environmental Inc | 0.16% | 0.02% | 0.14% |
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.
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 +18.01% vs +17.01% for VXUS, so SYZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), SYZ annualized +14.59% vs +15.64% for VXUS. 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 14.3% annualized versus 14.2% for VXUS. Worst drawdown: SYZ -8.0% vs VXUS -11.3%.
Should I hold both SYZ and VXUS?
SYZ and VXUS have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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 3.8% 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 16 positions in common, counted across the 430 positions we hold weights for in SYZ and 8,425 in VXUS.
Which pays a higher dividend, SYZ or VXUS?
SYZ yields 0.45% while VXUS yields 2.34%, so VXUS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VXUS better than SYZ?
VXUS has a lower expense ratio. SYZ 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.