AMLP vs VTI
Alerian MLP ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AMLP or VTI?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AMLP led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window.
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 | AMLP | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.01% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $13.4B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.28% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 15 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +24.49%Best | +13.59% |
| 1Y Return | +25.32%Best | +20.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.30% | +20.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +20.29%Best | +11.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 25.3% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -85.4% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $25,185Best | $17,474 |
| Fund Family | ALPS Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Aug 25, 2010 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Aug 25, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
AMLP 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 16 years both funds cover.
AMLP vs VTI Performance
Alerian MLP ETF (AMLP) is an ETF from ALPS Advisors and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AMLP returned +25.32% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, AMLP is up 24.49% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, AMLP compounded at +19.30% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +20.29% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.51% annualized vs +1.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AMLP has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 25.3% compared with 14.6% 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 -85.4% for AMLP and -35.0% 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 0.59. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AMLP charges 1.01% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $101 vs $3 annually, a gap of $98 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AMLP currently yields 7.28% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 14 holdings in AMLP and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 99.7% and 92.3% 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 14 positions we hold weights for in AMLP and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 15 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Measured across the 14 and 2,787 positions we hold weights for.
VTI holds 685 positions AMLP does not, 91.7% of the fund.
Largest: NVDA 6.32%, AAPL 5.84%, MSFT 3.81%, AMZN 3.17%, GOOGL 2.88%
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AMLP 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, AMLP or VTI?
AMLP has an expense ratio of 1.01% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $98 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AMLP or VTI?
Over the past year AMLP returned +25.32% vs +20.00% for VTI, so AMLP leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), AMLP annualized +1.06% vs +13.51% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AMLP or VTI?
AMLP has been the more volatile fund at 25.3% annualized versus 14.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: AMLP -85.4% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both AMLP and VTI?
AMLP and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.59, 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, AMLP or VTI?
AMLP yields 7.28% while VTI yields 1.07%, so AMLP currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AMLP?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AMLP led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.