APLU vs VTI
Allspring Core Plus ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, APLU or VTI?
Investment Grade Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y 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 | APLU | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.31% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $421M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.49% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 558 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -1.12% | +11.65%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.30% | +17.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.35% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.72% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.4%Best | 12.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -3.2%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.8 years | $10,409 | $12,704Best |
| Fund Family | Allspring Global Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Investment Grade Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 4, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.8 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 5, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.8 years).
APLU 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 1.8 years both funds cover.
APLU vs VTI Performance
Allspring Core Plus ETF (APLU) is an ETF from Allspring Global Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year APLU returned -0.30% while VTI returned +17.34%. Year to date, APLU is down 1.12% versus a gain of 11.65% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.8% compared with 3.4% for APLU. 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 -3.2% for APLU 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 0.33. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
APLU charges 0.31% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $31 vs $3 annually, a gap of $28 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, APLU currently yields 5.49% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 245 holdings in APLU and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 44.3% and 90.6% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 49 days apart, APLU as of Aug 18, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
0 positions in common, counted across the 245 positions we hold weights for in APLU and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 558 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of APLU 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, APLU or VTI?
APLU has an expense ratio of 0.31% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $28 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, APLU or VTI?
Over the past year APLU returned -0.30% vs +17.34% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), APLU annualized +2.25% vs +14.22% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, APLU or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 3.4% for APLU. Worst drawdown: APLU -3.2% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both APLU and VTI?
APLU and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.33, 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, APLU or VTI?
APLU yields 5.49% while VTI yields 1.03%, so APLU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than APLU?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.