AAEQ vs VTI
Alpha Architect US Equity 2 ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AAEQ or VTI?
VTI costs less.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%.
MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Metric | AAEQ | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.09% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $506M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.09% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 353 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +11.83% | +13.14%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.01% |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.0% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 9, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AAEQ vs VTI growth
Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
AAEQ vs VTI Performance
Alpha Architect US Equity 2 ETF (AAEQ) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, AAEQ is up 11.83% versus a gain of 13.14% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AAEQ charges 0.09% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $9 vs $3 annually, a gap of $6 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AAEQ currently yields 0.09% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
98.8% of AAEQ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 80.5% of VTI's money is in holdings AAEQ also owns.
Most of AAEQ is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
288 positions in common, counted across the 293 positions we hold weights for in AAEQ and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 353 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 862 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AAEQ (16.9% of the fund), and 5 for AAEQ that do not appear in VTI (1.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AAEQ | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.21% | 6.40% | 1.81% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 6.96% | 6.29% | 0.67% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.67% | 4.79% | 0.88% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.78% | 3.65% | 0.13% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 3.07% | 2.90% | 0.17% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.81% | 2.56% | 0.25% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.46% | 2.31% | 0.15% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.89% | 1.70% | 0.19% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.66% | 1.29% | 0.37% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.50% | 1.31% | 0.19% |
98.8% of AAEQ is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AAEQ or VTI?
AAEQ has an expense ratio of 0.09% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $6 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AAEQ and VTI?
98.8% of AAEQ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 80.5% of VTI's is in holdings AAEQ also owns. They hold 288 positions in common, counted across the 293 positions we hold weights for in AAEQ and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, AAEQ or VTI?
AAEQ yields 0.09% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AAEQ?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.