AVK vs VTI
Advent Convertible and Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, AVK or VTI?
Convertibles against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y 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 | AVK | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.77% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $594M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.36% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 435 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +4.69% | +12.57%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.03% | +17.22%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +15.90% | +20.87%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +3.56% | +11.86%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.8% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -72.6% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $11,911 | $17,514Best |
| Fund Family | Guggenheim Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 29, 2003 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 30, 2003 to Sep 11, 2026 (23.4 years).
AVK 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.
AVK vs VTI Performance
Advent Convertible and Income Fund (AVK) is an ETF from Guggenheim Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year AVK returned +8.03% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, AVK is up 4.69% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.
Over three years, AVK compounded at +15.90% per year against +20.87% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +3.56% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +10.07% annualized vs -0.15%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
AVK has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.8% compared with 14.9% 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 -72.6% for AVK and -56.6% 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
AVK charges 2.77% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $277 vs $3 annually, a gap of $274 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, AVK currently yields 10.36% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 266 holdings in AVK and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 110.4% and 90.6% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 24 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 151 days apart, AVK as of Jan 30, 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.
24 positions in common, counted across the 266 positions we hold weights for in AVK and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 435 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in AVK | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 0.51% | 3.81% | 3.30% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.45% | 2.46% | 2.01% |
| BABoeing Co | 1.93% | 0.23% | 1.70% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase & Co. | 0.47% | 1.11% | 0.64% |
| NEENextera Energy Inc. | 1.03% | 0.25% | 0.78% |
| ABBVAbbvie Inc. | 0.57% | 0.61% | 0.04% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 1.09% | 0.07% | 1.02% |
| MRKMerck & Co. Inc. | 0.66% | 0.44% | 0.22% |
| BRKRBruker Corp. | 1.01% | 0.00% | 1.01% |
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Inc. | 0.49% | 0.52% | 0.03% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of AVK 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, AVK or VTI?
AVK has an expense ratio of 2.77% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $274 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, AVK or VTI?
Over the past year AVK returned +8.03% vs +17.22% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), AVK annualized -0.15% vs +10.07% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, AVK or VTI?
AVK has been the more volatile fund at 20.8% annualized versus 14.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: AVK -72.6% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both AVK and VTI?
AVK and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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, AVK or VTI?
AVK yields 10.36% while VTI yields 1.03%, so AVK currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than AVK?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.