AESL vs VTI
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AESL or VTI?
Small Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AESL is less concentrated, with 28.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | AESL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 102 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -1.88% | +11.06%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +15.41% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.52% |
| Top 10 Weight | 28.3%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 26, 2026 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AESL 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.
AESL vs VTI Performance
Harbor AlphaEdge Small Cap Value ETF (AESL) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, AESL is down 1.88% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AESL charges 0.40% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $3 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AESL currently yields 0.00% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
89.1% of AESL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.3% of VTI's money is in holdings AESL also owns.
Most of AESL is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
88 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in AESL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 102 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,124 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AESL (97.2% of the fund), and 10 for AESL that do not appear in VTI (8.6%).
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 AESL | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UBSIUnited Bankshares Inc/Wv | 3.43% | 0.01% | 3.42% |
| APLEApple Hospitality Reit Inc | 3.23% | 0.00% | 3.23% |
| FBP:PRFirst Bancorp/puerto Rico | 3.22% | 0.01% | 3.21% |
| HOMBHome Bancshares Inc/ar | 3.15% | 0.01% | 3.14% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 3.08% | 0.01% | 3.07% |
| EBFEnnis Inc | 3.05% | 0.00% | 3.05% |
| ESNT:BMEssent Group Ltd | 2.58% | 0.01% | 2.57% |
| RAMPLiveramp Holdings Inc | 2.36% | 0.00% | 2.36% |
| ONBOld National Bancorp/In Common Stock | 2.20% | 0.01% | 2.19% |
| SLDESlide Insurance Holdings Inc | 2.02% | 0.00% | 2.02% |
89.1% of AESL 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, AESL or VTI?
AESL has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between AESL and VTI?
89.1% of AESL's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.3% of VTI's is in holdings AESL also owns. They hold 88 positions in common, counted across the 102 positions we hold weights for in AESL and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, AESL or VTI?
AESL yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AESL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AESL is less concentrated, with 28.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.