BSMQ vs VTI

BSMQ vs VTI

Which is better, BSMQ or VTI?

Municipal Bond against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTI

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

MetricBSMQVTI
Expense Ratio0.18%0.03%Best
AUM$268M$666.9B
Dividend Yield2.75%1.03%
Holdings1,8453,543
YTD Return+1.23%+12.30%Best
1Y Return+1.89%+16.08%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+3.05%+21.01%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+0.30%+12.36%Best
Volatility (annualized)4.5%Best17.1%
Max Drawdown-13.6%Best-35.0%
$10,000 over 5 years$10,151$17,908Best
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleMunicipal BondLarge Cap Blend
InceptionSep 25, 2019May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 26, 2019 to Sep 18, 2026 (7 years).

BSMQ 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.

BSMQ vs VTI Performance

Invesco BulletShares 2026 Municipal Bond ETF (BSMQ) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year BSMQ returned +1.89% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, BSMQ is up 1.23% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.

Over three years, BSMQ compounded at +3.05% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +0.30% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +15.17% annualized vs +0.87%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.1% compared with 4.5% for BSMQ. 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 -13.6% for BSMQ 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 0.51. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

BSMQ charges 0.18% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $18 vs $3 annually, a gap of $15 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, BSMQ currently yields 2.75% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 404 holdings in BSMQ and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 24.3% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 404 positions we hold weights for in BSMQ and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,845 and 3,543.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of BSMQ and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

BSMQVTI

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, BSMQ or VTI?

BSMQ has an expense ratio of 0.18% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $15 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, BSMQ or VTI?

Over the past year BSMQ returned +1.89% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), BSMQ annualized +0.87% vs +15.17% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, BSMQ or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 17.1% annualized versus 4.5% for BSMQ. Worst drawdown: BSMQ -13.6% vs VTI -35.0%.

Should I hold both BSMQ and VTI?

BSMQ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.51, 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, BSMQ or VTI?

BSMQ yields 2.75% while VTI yields 1.03%, so BSMQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than BSMQ?

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.