BRW vs VTI
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, BRW or VTI?
Bank Loan 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 | BRW | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.43% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $357M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 13.86% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,064 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | -3.00% | +12.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | -4.96% | +15.23%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +7.33% | +22.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +5.80% | +12.31%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.5%Best | 15.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -69.0% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,256 | $17,869Best |
| Fund Family | Saba Capital | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Bank Loan | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 12, 1988 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Oct 1, 2026 (25.3 years).
BRW 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.
BRW vs VTI Performance
Saba Capital Income & Opportunities Fund (BRW) is an ETF from Saba Capital and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BRW returned -4.96% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, BRW is down 3.00% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, BRW compounded at +7.33% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +5.80% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.03% annualized vs -0.82%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 14.5% for BRW. 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 -69.0% for BRW 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 0.55. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
BRW charges 1.43% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $143 vs $3 annually, a gap of $140 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BRW currently yields 13.86% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 36.0% of VTI's money is in holdings BRW also owns.
Stated as a floor: for BRW, our book for it covers 61.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 365 days apart, BRW as of Jul 31, 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.
212 positions in common, counted across the 532 positions we hold weights for in BRW and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,064 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in BRW | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | -0.06% | 6.40% | 6.46% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | -0.09% | 4.79% | 4.88% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | -0.51% | 3.65% | 4.16% |
| BMBLBumble Inc | 2.22% | 0.00% | 2.22% |
| CNNECannae Holdings Incorporation Com | 1.86% | 0.00% | 1.86% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | -0.46% | 2.31% | 2.77% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | -0.04% | 1.35% | 1.39% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | -0.39% | 1.70% | 2.09% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | -0.01% | 1.29% | 1.30% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 0.00% | 1.22% | 1.22% |
36.0% of VTI is already inside BRW.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, BRW or VTI?
BRW has an expense ratio of 1.43% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $140 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, BRW or VTI?
Over the past year BRW returned -4.96% vs +15.23% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), BRW annualized -0.82% vs +8.03% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, BRW or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 14.5% for BRW. Worst drawdown: BRW -69.0% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both BRW and VTI?
BRW and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.55, 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 BRW and VTI?
At least 36.0% of VTI's money is in holdings BRW also owns. Our book for BRW is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 212 positions in common, counted across the 532 positions we hold weights for in BRW and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, BRW or VTI?
BRW yields 13.86% while VTI yields 1.03%, so BRW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than BRW?
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.