ACSG vs VTI
American Century Small Cap Growth Insights ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ACSG or VTI?
Small Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ACSG led over 1Y and the full window. ACSG is less concentrated, with 8.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.6%.
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 | ACSG | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $53M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 620 | 3,542 |
| YTD Return | +13.80%Best | +12.23% |
| 1Y Return | +15.03%Best | +12.74% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.44% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +10.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 18.0% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -13.6% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,679Best | $11,667 |
| Top 10 Weight | 8.5%Best | 34.6% |
| Fund Family | American Century ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 14, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 16, 2025 to Nov 11, 2026 (1.1 years).
ACSG 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 covers the 1.1 years both funds cover.
ACSG vs VTI Performance
American Century Small Cap Growth Insights ETF (ACSG) is an ETF from American Century ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ACSG returned +15.03% while VTI returned +12.74%. Year to date, ACSG is up 13.80% versus a gain of 12.23% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ACSG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 18.0% compared with 12.6% for VTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -13.6% for ACSG and -8.9% for VTI. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ACSG charges 0.49% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ACSG currently yields 0.00% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
92.4% of ACSG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.5% of VTI's money is in holdings ACSG also owns.
Most of ACSG is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
279 positions in common, counted across the 309 positions we hold weights for in ACSG and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 620 and 3,542.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 991 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for ACSG (95.4% of the fund), and 11 for ACSG that do not appear in VTI (2.7%).
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 ACSG | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXG10x Genomics Inc Com Usd 1 Cl A | 1.03% | 0.01% | 1.02% |
| CECOCeco Environmental Corp Common Stock Usd 0.01 | 1.01% | 0.01% | 1.00% |
| KRYSKrystal Biotech Inc | 0.91% | 0.01% | 0.90% |
| PLXSPlexus Corp | 0.84% | 0.01% | 0.83% |
| TWSTTwist Bioscience Corp. | 0.82% | 0.02% | 0.80% |
| HXLHexcel Corp | 0.82% | 0.01% | 0.81% |
| SXTSensient Technologies Corp | 0.79% | 0.01% | 0.78% |
| ONTOOnto Innovation Inc | 0.77% | 0.02% | 0.75% |
| XPROExpro Group Holdings Nv | 0.77% | 0.00% | 0.77% |
| NOVTNovanta Inc. Common Stock | 0.76% | 0.01% | 0.75% |
92.4% of ACSG 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, ACSG or VTI?
ACSG has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ACSG or VTI?
Over the past year ACSG returned +15.03% vs +12.74% for VTI, so ACSG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ACSG annualized +15.15% vs +15.05% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ACSG or VTI?
ACSG has been the more volatile fund at 18.0% annualized versus 12.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: ACSG -13.6% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both ACSG and VTI?
ACSG and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ACSG and VTI?
92.4% of ACSG's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.5% of VTI's is in holdings ACSG also owns. They hold 279 positions in common, counted across the 309 positions we hold weights for in ACSG and 3,464 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, ACSG or VTI?
ACSG yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.06%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ACSG?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ACSG led over 1Y and the full window. ACSG is less concentrated, with 8.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 34.6%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.