AIA vs VTI
iShares Asia 50 ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AIA or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AIA led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.2%.
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 | AIA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5.0B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.54% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 64 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +42.80%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +52.08%Best | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +42.11%Best | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +16.30%Best | +12.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.2% | 16.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -61.1% | -55.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $21,276Best | $18,286 |
| Top 10 Weight | 65.2% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 13, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 16, 2007 to Oct 2, 2026 (18.9 years).
AIA 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 18.9 years both funds cover.
AIA vs VTI Performance
iShares Asia 50 ETF (AIA) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AIA returned +52.08% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, AIA is up 42.80% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, AIA compounded at +42.11% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +16.30% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.61% annualized vs +6.53%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AIA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.2% compared with 16.1% 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 -61.1% for AIA and -55.3% 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AIA charges 0.50% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIA currently yields 1.54% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 54 holdings in AIA and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.8% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 54 positions we hold weights for in AIA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 64 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AIA (97.5% of the fund), and 2 for AIA that do not appear in VTI (15.3%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AIA and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AIA or VTI?
AIA has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AIA or VTI?
Over the past year AIA returned +52.08% vs +15.92% for VTI, so AIA leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), AIA annualized +6.53% vs +9.61% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AIA or VTI?
AIA has been the more volatile fund at 22.2% annualized versus 16.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: AIA -61.1% vs VTI -55.3%.
Should I hold both AIA and VTI?
AIA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AIA or VTI?
AIA yields 1.54% while VTI yields 1.03%, so AIA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AIA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AIA led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.