BLV vs VTI
Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BLV or VTI?
Long Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
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 | BLV | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.03%Tie | 0.03%Tie |
| AUM | $5.7B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.95% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 2,974 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -5.07% | +13.60%Best |
| 1Y Return | -5.16% | +18.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +2.73% | +23.04%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -5.46% | +12.14%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.0%Best | 16.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -40.7%Best | -56.6% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,552 | $17,734Best |
| Fund Family | Vanguard (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Long Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 3, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 10, 2007 to Sep 25, 2026 (19.5 years).
BLV 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 19.5 years both funds cover.
BLV vs VTI Performance
Vanguard Long-Term Bond ETF (BLV) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BLV returned -5.16% while VTI returned +18.17%. Year to date, BLV is down 5.07% versus a gain of 13.60% for VTI.
Over three years, BLV compounded at +2.73% per year against +23.04% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -5.46% and +12.14% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.34% annualized vs +0.38%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.0% compared with 11.0% for BLV. 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 -40.7% for BLV 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 0.20. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BLV charges 0.03% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $3 annually. On income, BLV currently yields 4.95% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of VTI's money is in holdings BLV also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BLV, our book for it covers 68.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
7 positions in common, counted across the 1,021 positions we hold weights for in BLV and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 2,974 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BLV | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CURVVanguard Market Liquidity Fund | 0.27% | 0.00% | 0.27% |
| PEPPepsico Inc. | 0.00% | 0.26% | 0.26% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.00% | 0.24% | 0.24% |
| MOAltria Group Inc | 0.00% | 0.16% | 0.16% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 0.05% | 0.11% | 0.06% |
| JCIJohnson Controls International Plc | 0.01% | 0.12% | 0.11% |
| AONAon Plc | 0.01% | 0.10% | 0.09% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of BLV 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, BLV or VTI?
BLV has an expense ratio of 0.03% while VTI charges 0.03%. At the precision these are quoted to, they cost the same.
Which performed better, BLV or VTI?
Over the past year BLV returned -5.16% vs +18.17% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), BLV annualized +0.38% vs +9.34% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BLV or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 16.0% annualized versus 11.0% for BLV. Worst drawdown: BLV -40.7% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both BLV and VTI?
BLV and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.20, 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, BLV or VTI?
BLV yields 4.95% while VTI yields 1.03%, so BLV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BLV?
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.