VXUS vs. SGOV
VXUS (Vanguard Total International Stock ETF) and SGOV (iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF) are both exchange-traded funds - VXUS is a Global Equities fund tracking the FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, while SGOV is a Ultrashort Bond fund tracking the ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index. Both are passively managed. Over the past 5 years, VXUS returned 7.67%/yr vs 3.54%/yr for SGOV. At a correlation of -0.02, they often move in opposite directions. VXUS charges 0.05%/yr vs 0.09%/yr for SGOV.
Performance
VXUS vs. SGOV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VXUS achieves a 10.17% return, which is significantly higher than SGOV's 1.55% return.
VXUS
- 1D
- -3.73%
- 1M
- -3.02%
- YTD
- 10.17%
- 6M
- 12.29%
- 1Y
- 26.30%
- 3Y*
- 17.71%
- 5Y*
- 7.67%
- 10Y*
- 9.19%
SGOV
- 1D
- 0.03%
- 1M
- 0.31%
- YTD
- 1.55%
- 6M
- 1.79%
- 1Y
- 3.97%
- 3Y*
- 4.72%
- 5Y*
- 3.54%
- 10Y*
- —
VXUS vs. SGOV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VXUS Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | 10.17% | 32.35% | 5.08% | 15.86% | -16.08% | 8.98% | 29.79% |
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | 1.55% | 4.24% | 5.27% | 5.12% | 1.58% | 0.04% | 0.05% |
Correlation
The correlation between VXUS and SGOV is -0.15, meaning they tend to move in opposite directions. This is especially valuable for risk management - when one declines, the other has historically tended to hold steady or rise.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | -0.16 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | -0.04 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.00 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since May 29, 2020 | -0.02 |
The correlation between VXUS and SGOV shifts across timeframes, from -0.15 (1 year) to -0.00 (5 years), reflecting how their relationship changes across market environments.
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Return for Risk
VXUS vs. SGOV — Risk / Return Rank
VXUS
SGOV
VXUS vs. SGOV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) and iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV). 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.
| VXUS | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | -18.65 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | -274.80 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.31 | 196.55 | -195.24 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 2.34 | 400.29 | -397.94 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 9.11 | 4,485.40 | -4,476.29 |
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
| VXUS | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.69 | 20.34 | -18.65 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.48 | 14.75 | -14.27 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.54 | — | — |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.37 | 12.50 | -12.13 |
Drawdowns
VXUS vs. SGOV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VXUS drawdown since its inception was -35.97%, which is greater than SGOV's maximum drawdown of -0.03%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VXUS and SGOV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VXUS | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -35.97% | -0.03% | -35.94% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -11.27% | -0.01% | -11.26% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -13.58% | -0.01% | -13.57% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -29.44% | -0.03% | -29.41% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -35.97% | — | — |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -4.52% | 0.00% | -4.52% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.21% | -0.00% | -8.21% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.89% | 0.00% | +2.89% |
Volatility
VXUS vs. SGOV - Volatility Comparison
Vanguard Total International Stock ETF (VXUS) has a higher volatility of 6.16% compared to iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF (SGOV) at 0.06%. This indicates that VXUS's price experiences larger fluctuations and is considered to be riskier than SGOV based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VXUS | SGOV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 6.16% | 0.06% | +6.10% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 13.58% | 0.13% | +13.45% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 15.67% | 0.20% | +15.47% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 16.12% | 0.24% | +15.88% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 17.19% | 0.24% | +16.95% |
VXUS vs. SGOV - Expense Ratio Comparison
VXUS has a 0.05% expense ratio, which is lower than SGOV's 0.09% expense ratio. Despite the difference, both funds are considered low-cost compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios usually range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VXUS vs. SGOV - Dividend Comparison
VXUS's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 2.75%, less than SGOV's 3.85% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SGOV iShares 0-3 Month Treasury Bond ETF | 3.85% | 4.10% | 5.10% | 4.87% | 1.45% | 0.03% | 0.05% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
VXUS Vanguard Total International Stock ETF | 2.75% | 3.18% | 3.37% | 3.24% | 3.09% | 3.10% | 2.14% | 3.06% | 3.18% | 2.73% | 2.93% | 2.83% |
Frequently Asked Questions
VXUS and SGOV have a correlation of -0.15, meaning they provide meaningful diversification benefit when combined. Depending on your allocation goals, holding both could reduce overall portfolio risk.
VXUS has higher volatility (6.16%) compared to SGOV (0.06%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VXUS dropped -35.97% vs SGOV's -0.03%.
On 5-year performance, VXUS leads with 7.67% vs 3.54% for SGOV. On fees, VXUS is cheaper at 0.05% per year. On volatility, SGOV has been the lower-risk option at 0.06%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 5-year period, VXUS has performed better with a 7.67% return vs 3.54%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
VXUS is cheaper with a 0.05% expense ratio, compared with 0.09% for SGOV.
SGOV has the higher dividend yield at 3.85%, compared with 2.75% for VXUS.
VXUS is categorized as Global Equities, while SGOV is Ultrashort Bond. VXUS tracks FTSE Global All Cap ex US Index, while SGOV tracks ICE 0-3 Month US Treasury Securities Index. They also come from different issuers: Vanguard and iShares. Their fees differ too: 0.05% for VXUS and 0.09% for SGOV.
SGOV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (20.34 vs 1.69), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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