AREA vs VTI
Harbor AlphaEdge Next Generation REITs ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AREA or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%.
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 | AREA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $2M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.66% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 86 | 3,543 |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.0% | 11.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -21.1% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.5 years | $10,226 | $12,805Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 55.4% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 3, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: YTD Return, 1Y Return, 3Y Return (annualized), 5Y Return (annualized).
The two price series end 221 days apart, so a return over any period would be measuring two different stretches of market. Those rows are withheld. AREA has data through Feb 19, 2026 and VTI through Sep 28, 2026.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 5, 2024 to Feb 19, 2026 (1.5 years).
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AREA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.0% compared with 11.4% 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 -21.1% for AREA 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 0.32. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AREA charges 0.50% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AREA currently yields 0.66% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
96.3% of AREA's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.2% of VTI's money is in holdings AREA also owns.
Most of AREA is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 304 days apart, AREA as of Sep 30, 2025 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
36 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in AREA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 86 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,124 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for AREA (96.3% of the fund), and 2 for AREA that do not appear in VTI (2.9%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AREA | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAMRLamar Advertising Co | 7.06% | 0.02% | 7.04% |
| PSAPublic Storage | 6.88% | 0.08% | 6.80% |
| RYNRayonier Inc | 6.53% | 0.01% | 6.52% |
| VICIVici Properties Inc | 6.33% | 0.04% | 6.29% |
| EPREpr Properties | 5.79% | 0.01% | 5.78% |
| HSTHost Hotels & Resorts Inc | 5.66% | 0.02% | 5.64% |
| AMTAmerican Tower Corporation | 5.09% | 0.11% | 4.98% |
| HRHealthcare Realty Trust Incorporated | 4.75% | 0.01% | 4.74% |
| SBACSba Communications Corp. Class A Real Estate Investment Tru | 3.80% | 0.03% | 3.77% |
| SBRASabra Health Care Reit, Inc. | 3.55% | 0.01% | 3.54% |
96.3% of AREA 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, AREA or VTI?
AREA has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which is riskier, AREA or VTI?
AREA has been the more volatile fund at 13.0% annualized versus 11.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: AREA -21.1% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both AREA and VTI?
AREA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.32, 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 AREA and VTI?
96.3% of AREA's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.2% of VTI's is in holdings AREA also owns. They hold 36 positions in common, counted across the 38 positions we hold weights for in AREA and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, AREA or VTI?
AREA yields 0.66% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AREA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 55.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.