AQEC vs VTI
AQE Core ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AQEC or VTI?
Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.5%.
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 | AQEC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $596M | $689.2B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.10% | 1.06% |
| Holdings | 269 | 3,542 |
| YTD Return | -0.39% | +8.54%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.02% | +11.14%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.29% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +9.84% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.0%Best | 13.7% |
| Top 10 Weight | 38.5% | 34.6%Best |
| Fund Family | Arlington Partners, LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 18, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
AQEC 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.
AQEC vs VTI Performance
AQE Core ETF (AQEC) is an ETF from Arlington Partners, LLC and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AQEC returned +3.02% while VTI returned +11.14%. Year to date, AQEC is down 0.39% versus a gain of 8.54% 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 13.7% compared with 12.0% for AQEC. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.
The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQEC charges 0.49% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AQEC currently yields 1.10% against 1.06% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
92.5% of AQEC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 65.0% of VTI's money is in holdings AQEC also owns.
Most of AQEC is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
121 positions in common, counted across the 133 positions we hold weights for in AQEC and 3,464 in VTI, against full books of 269 and 3,542.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,010 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AQEC (31.9% of the fund), and 3 for AQEC that do not appear in VTI (1.4%).
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 AQEC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 8.31% | 7.13% | 1.18% |
| AAPLApple Inc | 7.58% | 6.63% | 0.95% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 6.00% | 5.19% | 0.81% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.22% | 3.30% | 0.08% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc | 3.41% | 2.76% | 0.65% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.20% | 2.28% | 0.08% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.15% | 2.18% | 0.03% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.09% | 2.18% | 0.09% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.59% | 1.64% | 0.05% |
| BRK.BBerkshire Hathaway Inc Brk/B Us Equity | 1.95% | 1.21% | 0.74% |
92.5% of AQEC 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, AQEC or VTI?
AQEC has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AQEC or VTI?
Over the past year AQEC returned +3.02% vs +11.14% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AQEC or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 13.7% annualized versus 12.0% for AQEC.
Should I hold both AQEC and VTI?
AQEC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 AQEC and VTI?
92.5% of AQEC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 65.0% of VTI's is in holdings AQEC also owns. They hold 121 positions in common, counted across the 133 positions we hold weights for in AQEC and 3,464 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQEC or VTI?
AQEC yields 1.10% while VTI yields 1.06%, so AQEC currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AQEC?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y. VTI is less concentrated, with 34.6% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 38.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.