AIMS vs VTI
Acuitas Small Cap Active ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AIMS or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AIMS is less concentrated, with 13.1% 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 | AIMS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $87M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.00% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 284 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +7.42% | +11.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +15.05% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.32% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.50% |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.1%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Acuitas Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 10, 2026 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AIMS 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.
AIMS vs VTI Performance
Acuitas Small Cap Active ETF (AIMS) is an ETF from Acuitas Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, AIMS is up 7.42% versus a gain of 11.95% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AIMS 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, AIMS currently yields 0.00% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
90.8% of AIMS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.3% of VTI's money is in holdings AIMS also owns.
Most of AIMS is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
254 positions in common, counted across the 279 positions we hold weights for in AIMS and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 284 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,116 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AIMS (97.1% of the fund), and 17 for AIMS that do not appear in VTI (7.2%).
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 AIMS | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LGNDLigand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 1.55% | 0.01% | 1.54% |
| PDFSPdf Solutions Inc | 1.27% | 0.00% | 1.27% |
| TFINTriumph Bancorp Inc | 1.21% | 0.00% | 1.21% |
| UFPTUfp Technologies Inc | 1.17% | 0.00% | 1.17% |
| BLFSBiolife Solutions Com New | 1.17% | 0.00% | 1.17% |
| CVLGCovenant Logistics Group Inc | 1.12% | 0.00% | 1.12% |
| IRMDIradimed Corp | 1.10% | 0.00% | 1.10% |
| PLMRPalomar Holdings Inc | 1.04% | 0.00% | 1.04% |
| MCBMetropolitan Bank Holding | 0.99% | 0.00% | 0.99% |
| KRTKarat Packaging Inc | 0.95% | 0.00% | 0.95% |
90.8% of AIMS 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, AIMS or VTI?
AIMS 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.
What is the holdings overlap between AIMS and VTI?
90.8% of AIMS's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.3% of VTI's is in holdings AIMS also owns. They hold 254 positions in common, counted across the 279 positions we hold weights for in AIMS and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, AIMS or VTI?
AIMS yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AIMS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AIMS is less concentrated, with 13.1% 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.