AQLT vs VTI
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AQLT or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AQLT led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94.
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 | AQLT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $329M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.98% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 521 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +10.62% | +11.65%Best |
| 1Y Return | +18.66%Best | +17.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.35% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.72% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.9% | 12.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -16.8%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.7 years | $12,624 | $12,630Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 11, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 12, 2024 to Sep 10, 2026 (1.7 years).
AQLT 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 1.7 years both funds cover.
AQLT vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI Global Quality Factor ETF (AQLT) 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 AQLT returned +18.66% while VTI returned +17.34%. Year to date, AQLT is up 10.62% versus a gain of 11.65% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AQLT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.9% compared with 12.8% 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 -16.8% for AQLT 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 0.94. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AQLT charges 0.20% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $3 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AQLT currently yields 0.98% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 66.1% of AQLT's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
124 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 521 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AQLT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.02% | 5.84% | 0.82% |
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 4.26% | 6.32% | 2.06% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.45% | 3.81% | 0.64% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.37% | 2.46% | 1.91% |
| GOOGLAlphabet A Usd 0.001 | 2.54% | 2.88% | 0.34% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 3.00% | 1.40% | 1.60% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 2.01% | 2.27% | 0.26% |
| VVisa Inc | 2.17% | 0.77% | 1.40% |
| JNJJohnson & Johnson | 1.82% | 0.84% | 0.98% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 1.65% | 0.79% | 0.86% |
66.1% of AQLT 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, AQLT or VTI?
AQLT has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AQLT or VTI?
Over the past year AQLT returned +18.66% vs +17.34% for VTI, so AQLT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), AQLT annualized +14.69% vs +14.72% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AQLT or VTI?
AQLT has been the more volatile fund at 12.9% annualized versus 12.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: AQLT -16.8% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both AQLT and VTI?
AQLT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.94, 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.
What is the holdings overlap between AQLT and VTI?
At least 66.1% of AQLT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 124 positions in common, counted across the 463 positions we hold weights for in AQLT and 2,787 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, AQLT or VTI?
AQLT yields 0.98% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AQLT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. AQLT led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.94. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.