AIFD vs VTI

AIFD vs VTI

Which is better, AIFD or VTI?

AIFD has been ahead.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. AIFD led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.0%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: AIFDLess Concentrated: VTI

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

MetricAIFDVTI
Expense Ratio0.75%0.03%Best
AUM$144M$690.1B
Dividend Yield0.00%1.03%
Holdings683,524
YTD Return+43.75%Best+12.51%
1Y Return+52.97%Best+15.23%
3Y Return (annualized)-+22.50%
5Y Return (annualized)-+12.31%
Volatility (annualized)25.5%11.9%Best
Max Drawdown-33.2%-19.3%Best
$10,000 over 2.4 years$21,501Best$15,078
Top 10 Weight52.0%33.3%Best
Fund FamilyTCW ETFsVanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMay 6, 2024May 24, 2001

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 7, 2024 to Oct 1, 2026 (2.4 years).

AIFD 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 2.4 years both funds cover.

AIFD vs VTI Performance

TCW Artificial Intelligence ETF (AIFD) is an ETF from TCW ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AIFD returned +52.97% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, AIFD is up 43.75% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

AIFD has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.5% compared with 11.9% 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 -33.2% for AIFD and -19.3% 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

AIFD charges 0.75% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $3 annually, a gap of $72 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AIFD currently yields 0.00% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

AIFD already in VTI86.0%
VTI already in AIFD22.1%

86.0% of AIFD's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 22.1% of VTI's money is in holdings AIFD also owns.

Most of AIFD is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, AIFD as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.

29 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in AIFD and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 68 and 3,524.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,122 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AIFD (75.4% of the fund), and 0 for AIFD that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).

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

StockWeight in AIFDWeight in VTIDifference
NVDANvidia Corp6.98%6.40%0.58%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A5.04%2.90%2.14%
AVGOBroadcom Inc4.96%2.56%2.40%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.6.07%1.29%4.78%
AMZNAmazon.Com Inc3.71%3.65%0.06%
ANETArista Networks Inc Common Stock6.09%0.27%5.82%
PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc5.79%0.38%5.41%
MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd.4.81%0.23%4.58%
LITELumentum Holdings Inc4.94%0.08%4.86%
DOCNDigitalocean Holdings Inc3.63%0.01%3.62%

86.0% of AIFD 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.

AIFDVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, AIFD or VTI?

AIFD has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $72 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, AIFD or VTI?

Over the past year AIFD returned +52.97% vs +15.23% for VTI, so AIFD leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AIFD annualized +37.57% vs +18.66% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, AIFD or VTI?

AIFD has been the more volatile fund at 25.5% annualized versus 11.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: AIFD -33.2% vs VTI -19.3%.

Should I hold both AIFD and VTI?

AIFD and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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 AIFD and VTI?

86.0% of AIFD's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 22.1% of VTI's is in holdings AIFD also owns. They hold 29 positions in common, counted across the 34 positions we hold weights for in AIFD and 3,463 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, AIFD or VTI?

AIFD yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than AIFD?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. AIFD led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 52.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.