BCAT vs VTI
BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BCAT or VTI?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. BCAT led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 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 | BCAT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.41% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 21.97% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 917 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +27.85%Best | +12.34% |
| 1Y Return | +29.35%Best | +18.37% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.72%Best | +20.62% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.79% | +11.68%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.7%Best | 15.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -36.1% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,239 | $17,373Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 25, 2020 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 25, 2020 to Sep 9, 2026 (6 years).
BCAT 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 6 years both funds cover.
BCAT vs VTI Performance
BlackRock Capital Allocation Term Trust (BCAT) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BCAT returned +29.35% while VTI returned +18.37%. Year to date, BCAT is up 27.85% versus a gain of 12.34% for VTI.
Over three years, BCAT compounded at +23.72% per year against +20.62% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.79% and +11.68% respectively. Across the full 6-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +16.07% annualized vs +9.39%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 14.7% for BCAT. 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 -36.1% for BCAT and -25.4% 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
BCAT charges 1.41% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $141 vs $3 annually, a gap of $138 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BCAT currently yields 21.97% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 316 holdings in BCAT and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 66.2% and 92.3% 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, 115 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, BCAT as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
115 positions in common, counted across the 316 positions we hold weights for in BCAT and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 917 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BCAT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 2.35% | 6.32% | 3.97% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 1.93% | 5.84% | 3.91% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.10% | 3.81% | 0.71% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.36% | 3.17% | 0.81% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 2.48% | 2.27% | 0.21% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.31% | 2.46% | 1.15% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.14% | 1.79% | 0.65% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.24% | 1.40% | 0.16% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 0.93% | 1.70% | 0.77% |
| TSLATesla Motors Inc | 0.68% | 1.63% | 0.95% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BCAT 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, BCAT or VTI?
BCAT has an expense ratio of 1.41% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $138 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BCAT or VTI?
Over the past year BCAT returned +29.35% vs +18.37% for VTI, so BCAT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (6 years), BCAT annualized +9.39% vs +16.07% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BCAT or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 14.7% for BCAT. Worst drawdown: BCAT -36.1% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both BCAT and VTI?
BCAT 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.
Which pays a higher dividend, BCAT or VTI?
BCAT yields 21.97% while VTI yields 1.03%, so BCAT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BCAT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. BCAT led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.