BAI vs VTI
iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BAI or VTI?
BAI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. BAI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%.
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 | BAI | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $13.7B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.34% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 55 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +30.90%Best | +12.28% |
| 1Y Return | +31.71%Best | +16.78% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.89% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.94% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 37.5% | 13.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -34.1% | -19.3%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $17,974Best | $13,325 |
| Top 10 Weight | 41.5% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 21, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 22, 2024 to Sep 17, 2026 (1.9 years).
BAI 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
BAI vs VTI Performance
iShares AI Innovation and Tech Active ETF (BAI) 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 BAI returned +31.71% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, BAI is up 30.90% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BAI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 37.5% compared with 13.2% 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 -34.1% for BAI 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BAI charges 0.55% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $3 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BAI currently yields 1.34% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
69.9% of BAI's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 27.2% of VTI's money is in holdings BAI also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
32 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BAI and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 55 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,119 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for BAI (70.3% of the fund), and 6 for BAI that do not appear in VTI (7.6%).
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 BAI | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.34% | 6.40% | 1.06% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 6.37% | 1.29% | 5.08% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 4.84% | 2.56% | 2.28% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.14% | 4.79% | 2.65% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 4.75% | 1.08% | 3.67% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.03% | 3.65% | 1.62% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.71% | 2.90% | 0.19% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 4.12% | 0.51% | 3.61% |
| SNOWSnowflake Inc | 2.92% | 0.13% | 2.79% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 2.54% | 0.50% | 2.04% |
69.9% of BAI 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, BAI or VTI?
BAI has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BAI or VTI?
Over the past year BAI returned +31.71% vs +16.78% for VTI, so BAI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), BAI annualized +36.15% vs +16.31% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BAI or VTI?
BAI has been the more volatile fund at 37.5% annualized versus 13.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: BAI -34.1% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both BAI and VTI?
BAI and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 BAI and VTI?
69.9% of BAI's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 27.2% of VTI's is in holdings BAI also owns. They hold 32 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in BAI and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, BAI or VTI?
BAI yields 1.34% while VTI yields 1.03%, so BAI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BAI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. BAI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 41.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.