Grow it · ETFs

VSO vs SMLL

Compare fees, returns, income and risk for these 2 ASX-listed ETFs side by side.

At a glance

Comparing VSO and SMLL. VSO has the lower management fee at 0.3% a year and VSO offers the higher at 4.92%.
Lower fee
VSO 0.3% p.a.
Higher yield
VSO 4.92%
Larger fund
VSO $1.1bn

Side-by-side comparison

Metric VSO
Vanguard MSCI Australian Small Companies Index ETF
SMLL
BetaShares Australian Small Companies Select ETF
Snapshot
Provider
Vanguard
BetaShares
Tracks index
MSCI Australian Shares Small Cap Index
Nasdaq Australia Small Cap Select Index
Categories
AU, Small-Cap, Market-Cap
AU, Small-Cap, Factor, Quality
Listed since
2011 (15 yrs)
2017 (9 yrs)
Fund size (AUM)
$1.1bn
Cost & income
Management fee
0.3%
0.39%
Dividend yield
4.92%
Franking
65%
70%
Turnover
18%
35%
Tax drag 1.07% 0.84%
Returns
Tax bracket
1-year return
7%
net
3-year return
9.3%
net
5-year return
5.5%
net
10-year return
8.4%
net
Risk
Volatility (3y)
13.2%
Volatility (5y)
15.6%
Volatility (10y)
16.6%
Sharpe ratio (3y)
0.43
Sharpe ratio (5y)
0.22
Sharpe ratio (10y)
0.44
Bid/ask spread

marks the strongest fund in each row. “net” shows the after-tax return at your selected bracket. “—” means we don’t have that data point yet.

Each fund at a glance

VSO Vanguard MSCI Australian Small Companies Index ETF
  • Low-cost: a 0.3% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
  • Pays a useful 4.92% income yield.
  • Cheaper alternatives exist: VAS and EX20.
SMLL BetaShares Australian Small Companies Select ETF
  • Low-cost: a 0.39% management fee keeps more of the return in your pocket.
  • Pricier than similar ETFs, which average around 0.34%.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between VSO vs SMLL?

VSO and SMLL are 2 Australian-listed ETFs we compare side by side. VSO carries the lower management fee (0.3%). The table above breaks down fees, returns, income and risk for each.

Which has the lower fees - VSO vs SMLL?

VSO has the lower management fee at 0.3% a year, versus SMLL 0.39%.

Which pays the higher dividend yield?

VSO pays the higher at 4.92%. Remember distributions are taxed each year at your marginal rate.

Which is the larger and most liquid?

VSO is the larger fund by assets ($1.1bn). Larger funds are typically more liquid and trade on tighter spreads.

Related comparisons

General information only, generated from each fund's published data — not personal financial advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns. Consider your own circumstances or seek licensed advice before investing.

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