State Street SPDR Portfolio S&P 1500 Composite Stock Market ETF (SPTM) is a ETF from State Street Investment Management and Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) is a ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year SPTM returned +23.97% while VXUS returned +28.78%. Year to date, SPTM is up 13.93% versus a gain of 13.57% for VXUS.

Over three years, SPTM compounded at +20.59% per year against +18.63% for VXUS; over five years the annualized figures are +13.12% and +9.05% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, SPTM has the edge at +12.48% annualized vs +4.80%. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

VXUS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.1% compared with 14.9% for SPTM. 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 -35.1% for SPTM and -39.9% for VXUS. Drawdown depth is worth weighing if you expect to sell during market stress rather than ride it out.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

SPTM charges 0.03% per year while VXUS charges 0.05%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $5 annually, a gap of $2 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, SPTM currently yields 1.06% against 2.60% for VXUS.