BGH vs VTI
Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BGH or VTI?
High Yield Bond 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 | BGH | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.88% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $300M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 9.82% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 248 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -2.03% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | -9.25% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.59% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.19% | +12.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.9% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.8% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,503 | $17,908Best |
| Fund Family | Barings | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 26, 2012 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 26, 2012 to Sep 18, 2026 (13.9 years).
BGH 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.
BGH vs VTI Performance
Barings Global Short Duration High Yield Fund (BGH) is an ETF from Barings and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BGH returned -9.25% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, BGH is down 2.03% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, BGH compounded at +12.59% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.19% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 14-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.21% annualized vs -0.33%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
BGH has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 14.6% 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 -63.8% for BGH and -35.0% 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BGH charges 3.88% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $388 vs $3 annually, a gap of $385 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BGH currently yields 9.82% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 107 holdings in BGH and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 59.3% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 304 days apart, BGH 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 107 positions we hold weights for in BGH and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 248 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BGH 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, BGH or VTI?
BGH has an expense ratio of 3.88% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $385 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BGH or VTI?
Over the past year BGH returned -9.25% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (14 years), BGH annualized -0.33% vs +13.21% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BGH or VTI?
BGH has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 14.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: BGH -63.8% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both BGH and VTI?
BGH and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, BGH or VTI?
BGH yields 9.82% while VTI yields 1.03%, so BGH currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BGH?
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.