Overview
International small-cap equity exposure. Tracks 3,800+ small-cap companies across 46 developed and emerging markets excluding the US. Provides the small-cap premium internationally at Vanguard's minimal cost.
Top Holdings
| Ticker | Holding | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| CLMB | Climb Global Solutions | 0.3% |
| JBH | JB Hi-Fi Ltd. | 0.3% |
| SDF | K+S AG | 0.3% |
| GMED | Globus Medical | 0.2% |
| 3038 | Kokubu Group | 0.2% |
| PRU | Prudential PLC | 0.2% |
| OC | Owens Corning | 0.2% |
| BIMBOA | Grupo Bimbo | 0.2% |
| ADE | Adecco Group | 0.2% |
| PNDORA | Pandora A/S | 0.2% |
Fund Details
Investment Thesis
VSS fills the international small-cap allocation gap that most international ETFs leave unfilled by focusing exclusively on smaller companies outside the US. Academic research has documented a small-cap return premium in international markets, and VSS captures this at Vanguard's characteristic 0.08% cost. The 3,800-company portfolio provides diversification across thousands of companies that institutional investors cannot easily access individually. Small-cap companies in international markets are typically more domestically focused than large multinationals, providing purer country economic exposure.
Who It's For
Factor-based investors building a globally diversified portfolio who want the international small-cap premium alongside their core large-cap international holdings. VSS is best used as a complement to VEA or VXUS rather than as a standalone international allocation. Suitable for investors who believe in the evidence for a small-cap size premium and want it expressed globally, not just within the US market through funds like IWM.
10-Year History
| Year | Close | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $90.42 | -- |
| 2017 | $112.42 | +24.3% |
| 2018 | $94.42 | -16.0% |
| 2019 | $112.42 | +19.1% |
| 2020 | $116.42 | +3.6% |
| 2021 | $136.42 | +17.2% |
| 2022 | $100.42 | -26.4% |
| 2023 | $118.42 | +17.9% |
| 2024 | $112.18 | -5.3% |
| 2025 | $148.50 | +32.4% |
| Year | Yield |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 2.42% |
| 2017 | 2.22% |
| 2018 | 2.52% |
| 2019 | 2.32% |
| 2020 | 2.02% |
| 2021 | 1.82% |
| 2022 | 2.38% |
| 2023 | 2.18% |
| 2024 | 2.18% |
| 2025 | 2.42% |
| Year | AUM | % Chg |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $2B | -- |
| 2017 | $3B | +50.0% |
| 2018 | $2B | -33.3% |
| 2019 | $3B | +50.0% |
| 2020 | $3B | 0.0% |
| 2021 | $4B | +33.3% |
| 2022 | $3B | -25.0% |
| 2023 | $4B | +33.3% |
| 2024 | $4B | 0.0% |
| 2025 | $5.5B | +37.5% |
Historical figures are ETFHub estimates modelled from asset-class return patterns and may differ from official fund records. Data as of August 2026.
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