CARZ vs VTI
First Trust S-Network Future Vehicles & Technology ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, CARZ or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CARZ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%.
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 | CARZ | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $49M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.29% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 104 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +36.91%Best | +13.35% |
| 1Y Return | +49.54%Best | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +31.20%Best | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +15.60%Best | +12.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.1% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.2% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $20,644Best | $18,286 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.7% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 9, 2011 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 10, 2011 to Oct 2, 2026 (15.4 years).
CARZ 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 15.4 years both funds cover.
CARZ vs VTI Performance
First Trust S-Network Future Vehicles & Technology ETF (CARZ) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CARZ returned +49.54% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, CARZ is up 36.91% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, CARZ compounded at +31.20% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +15.60% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.11% annualized vs +10.50%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CARZ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.1% compared with 14.7% 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 -51.2% for CARZ 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 0.80. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CARZ charges 0.70% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $3 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CARZ currently yields 1.29% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
58.6% of CARZ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 26.2% of VTI's money is in holdings CARZ also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, CARZ as of Sep 15, 2026 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.
40 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in CARZ and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 104 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,119 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for CARZ (71.3% of the fund), and 7 for CARZ that do not appear in VTI (7.7%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CARZ | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 5.01% | 6.40% | 1.39% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 4.81% | 6.29% | 1.48% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.96% | 4.79% | 1.17% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.31% | 2.90% | 1.41% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 4.59% | 1.29% | 3.30% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 4.16% | 1.22% | 2.94% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 4.29% | 1.08% | 3.21% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 4.15% | 0.50% | 3.65% |
| TXNTexas Instrument Inc | 2.31% | 0.35% | 1.96% |
| MRVLMarvell Technology Group Ltd. | 1.94% | 0.23% | 1.71% |
58.6% of CARZ is already inside VTI.
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, CARZ or VTI?
CARZ has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CARZ or VTI?
Over the past year CARZ returned +49.54% vs +15.92% for VTI, so CARZ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), CARZ annualized +10.50% vs +12.11% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CARZ or VTI?
CARZ has been the more volatile fund at 24.1% annualized versus 14.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: CARZ -51.2% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both CARZ and VTI?
CARZ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.80, 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 CARZ and VTI?
58.6% of CARZ's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 26.2% of VTI's is in holdings CARZ also owns. They hold 40 positions in common, counted across the 99 positions we hold weights for in CARZ and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, CARZ or VTI?
CARZ yields 1.29% while VTI yields 1.03%, so CARZ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than CARZ?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CARZ led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.