AOA vs VTI
iShares Core 80/20 Aggressive Allocation ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AOA or VTI?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96.
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 | AOA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.15% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.3B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.09% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 11 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +9.00% | +11.06%Best |
| 1Y Return | +13.38% | +15.41%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +16.76% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.54% | +11.52%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -28.4%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,064 | $17,249Best |
| Top 10 Weight | - | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 4, 2008 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 11, 2008 to Sep 16, 2026 (17.8 years).
AOA 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 17.8 years both funds cover.
AOA vs VTI Performance
iShares Core 80/20 Aggressive Allocation ETF (AOA) 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 AOA returned +13.38% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, AOA is up 9.00% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, AOA compounded at +16.76% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.54% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.10% annualized vs +8.58%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 12.9% for AOA. 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 -28.4% for AOA 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 0.96. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AOA charges 0.15% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $3 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AOA currently yields 2.09% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 8 holdings in AOA and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.9% 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 8 positions we hold weights for in AOA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 11 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AOA (97.5% of the fund), and 8 for AOA that do not appear in VTI (99.9%).
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 AOA 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, AOA or VTI?
AOA has an expense ratio of 0.15% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AOA or VTI?
Over the past year AOA returned +13.38% vs +15.41% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), AOA annualized +8.58% vs +13.10% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AOA or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 12.9% for AOA. Worst drawdown: AOA -28.4% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both AOA and VTI?
AOA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.96, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, AOA or VTI?
AOA yields 2.09% while VTI yields 1.03%, so AOA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AOA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.96. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.