VSS vs. FSTSX
Compare and contrast key facts about Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS) and Fidelity Series International Small Cap Fund (FSTSX).
VSS is a passively managed fund by Vanguard that tracks the performance of the FTSE Global Small Cap ex US Index. It was launched on Apr 2, 2009. FSTSX is managed by Fidelity. It was launched on Dec 3, 2009.
Performance
VSS vs. FSTSX - Performance Comparison
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VSS vs. FSTSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSS Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF | 1.72% | 29.61% | 2.94% | 15.52% | -21.48% | 13.05% | 11.81% | 21.36% | -18.48% | 30.61% |
FSTSX Fidelity Series International Small Cap Fund | -4.92% | 27.49% | 4.97% | 18.36% | -26.25% | 18.29% | 19.61% | 28.24% | -13.19% | 34.44% |
Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VSS achieves a 1.72% return, which is significantly higher than FSTSX's -4.92% return. Over the past 10 years, VSS has underperformed FSTSX with an annualized return of 7.63%, while FSTSX has yielded a comparatively higher 8.86% annualized return.
VSS
- 1D
- 3.06%
- 1M
- -8.91%
- YTD
- 1.72%
- 6M
- 4.71%
- 1Y
- 30.55%
- 3Y*
- 13.84%
- 5Y*
- 5.38%
- 10Y*
- 7.63%
FSTSX
- 1D
- -0.18%
- 1M
- -11.22%
- YTD
- -4.92%
- 6M
- -3.31%
- 1Y
- 17.66%
- 3Y*
- 11.76%
- 5Y*
- 5.42%
- 10Y*
- 8.86%
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VSS vs. FSTSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
VSS has a 0.07% expense ratio, which is higher than FSTSX's 0.03% expense ratio. However, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Return for Risk
VSS vs. FSTSX — Risk / Return Rank
VSS
FSTSX
VSS vs. FSTSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS) and Fidelity Series International Small Cap Fund (FSTSX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| VSS | FSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | 1.88 | 1.05 | +0.83 |
Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | 2.50 | 1.48 | +1.02 |
Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.38 | 1.21 | +0.18 |
Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.54 | 1.30 | +1.24 |
Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 10.09 | 4.56 | +5.52 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VSS | FSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.88 | 1.05 | +0.83 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.33 | 0.33 | 0.00 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.45 | 0.56 | -0.12 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.52 | 0.58 | -0.06 |
Correlation
The correlation between VSS and FSTSX is 0.88, which is considered to be high. That indicates a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Having highly-correlated positions in a portfolio may signal a lack of diversification, potentially leading to increased risk during market downturns.
Dividends
VSS vs. FSTSX - Dividend Comparison
VSS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 3.33%, less than FSTSX's 16.03% yield.
| TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VSS Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF | 3.33% | 3.39% | 3.44% | 3.14% | 2.30% | 2.74% | 1.90% | 3.25% | 2.80% | 2.83% | 2.93% | 2.66% |
FSTSX Fidelity Series International Small Cap Fund | 16.03% | 15.24% | 10.22% | 3.34% | 6.38% | 13.22% | 0.81% | 4.27% | 10.99% | 6.30% | 4.01% | 7.32% |
Drawdowns
VSS vs. FSTSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VSS drawdown since its inception was -43.51%, which is greater than FSTSX's maximum drawdown of -38.91%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VSS and FSTSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VSS | FSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -43.51% | -38.91% | -4.60% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.62% | -11.22% | -0.40% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -33.93% | -38.91% | +4.98% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -43.51% | -38.91% | -4.60% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -8.91% | -11.22% | +2.31% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -9.72% | -7.95% | -1.77% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.93% | 3.19% | -0.26% |
Volatility
VSS vs. FSTSX - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard FTSE All-World ex-US Small-Cap ETF (VSS) has a higher volatility of 7.61% compared to Fidelity Series International Small Cap Fund (FSTSX) at 6.05%. This indicates that VSS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than FSTSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VSS | FSTSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 7.61% | 6.05% | +1.56% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 11.00% | 9.68% | +1.32% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 16.37% | 15.21% | +1.16% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.26% | 16.26% | 0.00% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.17% | 15.80% | +1.37% |