- ISIN
- US9220427184
- CUSIP
- 922042718
- Issuer
- Vanguard
- Inception Date
- Apr 2, 2009
- Region
- Developed Markets (Broad)
- Category
- Foreign Small & Mid Cap Equities
- Leveraged
- 1x (No leverage)
- Index Tracked
- FTSE Global Small Cap ex US Index
- Domicile
- United States
- Distribution Policy
- Distributing
- Asset Class
- Equity
- Asset Class Size
- Multi-Cap
- Asset Class Style
- Blend
- Assets Under Management
- $14B
Share Price Chart
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Performance
VSS Performance Chart
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS) is up 10.8% since the beginning of the year. VSS is currently trading at $158 per share. Investors who bought $1,000 worth of VSS shares 5 years ago would now be looking at an investment worth $1,353.
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Returns By Period
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS) has returned 10.76% so far this year and 26.93% over the past 12 months. Over the last ten years, VSS has returned 8.76% per year, falling short of the S&P 500 Index benchmark, which averaged 13.88% annually.
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF
- 1D
- 0.22%
- 1M
- -0.37%
- YTD
- 10.76%
- 6M
- 11.06%
- 1Y
- 26.93%
- 3Y*
- 17.08%
- 5Y*
- 6.23%
- 10Y*
- 8.76%
Benchmark (S&P 500 Index)
- 1D
- -0.37%
- 1M
- -0.01%
- YTD
- 9.16%
- 6M
- 8.64%
- 1Y
- 25.22%
- 3Y*
- 19.78%
- 5Y*
- 11.99%
- 10Y*
- 13.88%
VSS Monthly Returns History
Based on dividend-adjusted daily data since Apr 6, 2009, VSS's average daily return is +0.04%, while the average monthly return is +0.92%. At this rate, an investment would double in approximately 6.3 years.
Historically, 59% of months were positive and 41% were negative. The best month was May 2009 with a return of +16.8%, while the worst month was Mar 2020 at -20.6%. The longest winning streak lasted 14 consecutive months, and the longest losing streak was 5 months.
On a daily basis, VSS closed higher 55% of trading days. The best single day was Mar 24, 2020 with a return of +8.0%, while the worst single day was Mar 12, 2020 at -12.3%.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6.40% | 4.95% | -8.91% | 8.44% | 1.84% | -1.40% | 10.76% | ||||||
| 2025 | 0.55% | 0.12% | 0.30% | 4.17% | 6.04% | 5.85% | -0.53% | 4.93% | 2.17% | -0.13% | 0.98% | 2.08% | 29.61% |
| 2024 | -3.13% | 1.57% | 3.23% | -1.92% | 4.56% | -1.25% | 3.18% | 1.52% | 2.81% | -4.65% | 0.14% | -2.69% | 2.94% |
| 2023 | 8.76% | -3.15% | 0.87% | 1.57% | -3.50% | 4.09% | 4.93% | -3.83% | -4.26% | -4.91% | 9.37% | 6.04% | 15.52% |
| 2022 | -5.80% | -1.95% | 0.13% | -7.41% | 0.79% | -10.41% | 5.92% | -4.67% | -10.80% | 3.66% | 11.32% | -2.29% | -21.48% |
| 2021 | -0.64% | 4.00% | 1.96% | 4.27% | 2.51% | -0.14% | 0.93% | 1.70% | -4.13% | 3.21% | -4.53% | 3.67% | 13.05% |
Benchmark Metrics
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF has an annualized alpha of -1.44%, beta of 0.89, and R2 of 0.72 versus S&P 500 Index. Calculated based on daily prices since April 06, 2009.
- This ETF participated in 105.09% of S&P 500 Index downside but only 89.86% of its upside - more exposed to losses than it benefited from rallies.
- With beta of 0.89 and R2 of 0.72, this ETF moves broadly in line with S&P 500 Index - much of its variation is explained by market exposure rather than independent behavior.
- Alpha
- -1.44%
- Beta
- 0.89
- R²
- 0.72
- Upside Capture
- 89.86%
- Downside Capture
- 105.09%
Expense Ratio
VSS has an expense ratio of 0.07%, which is considered low.
Return for Risk
Risk / Return Rank
VSS ranks 51 for risk / return — on par with similar ETFs. You're getting a typical balance of risk and reward. Not a standout, but not a red flag either — a reasonable choice if other factors align with your goals.
Return / Risk — by metrics
The table below present risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS) and compare them to S&P 500 Index.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| VSS | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -0.29 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -0.38 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.32 | 1.37 | -0.05 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.33 | 2.78 | -0.46 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 8.70 | 12.44 | -3.74 |
Dividends
Dividend History
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF provided a 3.15% dividend yield over the last twelve months, with an annual payout of $4.98 per share. The fund has been increasing its distributions for 3 consecutive years.
| Period | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dividend | $4.98 | $4.86 | $3.94 | $3.61 | $2.36 | $3.67 | $2.31 | $3.61 | $2.65 | $3.38 | $2.75 | $2.47 |
Dividend yield | 3.15% | 3.39% | 3.44% | 3.14% | 2.30% | 2.74% | 1.90% | 3.25% | 2.80% | 2.83% | 2.93% | 2.66% |
Monthly Dividends
The table displays the monthly dividend distributions for Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF. The dividends shown in the table have been adjusted to account for any splits that may have occurred.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.86 | $0.86 | ||||||
| 2025 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.74 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.76 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $3.35 | $4.86 |
| 2024 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.84 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.56 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2.54 | $3.94 |
| 2023 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.56 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2.05 | $3.61 |
| 2022 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.37 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.16 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $1.83 | $2.36 |
| 2021 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.56 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.60 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $2.51 | $3.67 |
Drawdowns
Drawdowns Chart
The Drawdowns chart displays portfolio losses from any high point along the way. Drawdowns are calculated considering price movements and all distributions paid, if any.
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Worst Drawdowns
The table below displays the maximum drawdowns of the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF. A maximum drawdown is a measure of risk, indicating the largest reduction in portfolio value due to a series of losing trades.
The maximum drawdown for the Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF was 43.51%, occurring on Mar 23, 2020. Recovery took 178 trading sessions.
The current Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF drawdown is 2.41%.
Related event | Drawdown | Fall | Recovery | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|---|
COVID crash2020 | -43.51%Mar 2020 | 2y 1mo | 8mo 15d | 2y 10moJan 2018 - Dec 2020 |
Bear market2022 | -33.93%Oct 2022 | 1y 1mo | 2y 7mo | 3y 8moSep 2021 - May 2025 |
2011 bear market2011 | -29.09%Oct 2011 | 5mo 4d | 1y 11mo | 2y 4moMay 2011 - Sep 2013 |
2016 bear market2016 | -24.18%Feb 2016 | 1y 7mo | 1y 2mo | 2y 9moJul 2014 - Apr 2017 |
2010 correction2010 | -18.53%May 2010 | 1mo 11d | 3mo 27d | 5mo 8dApr 2010 - Sep 2010 |
Drawdown Indicators
| VSS | Benchmark | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -43.51% | -56.78% | +13.27% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.62% | -9.10% | -2.52% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -15.73% | -18.90% | +3.17% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.93% | -25.43% | -8.50% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.51% | -33.92% | -9.59% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -2.41% | -1.80% | -0.61% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.62% | -10.71% | +1.09% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 3.10% | 2.03% | +1.07% |
Volatility
Volatility Chart
The chart below shows the rolling one-month volatility.
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