CCEF vs VTI
Calamos CEF Income & Arbitrage ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, CCEF or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.7%.
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 | CCEF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.19% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $36M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 7.86% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 58 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +4.96% | +12.25%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.28% | +15.74%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.45% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.32% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 9.9%Best | 12.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -14.1%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 2.7 years | $13,953 | $16,401Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 33.7% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 16, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.7 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 16, 2024 to Sep 29, 2026 (2.7 years).
CCEF 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 2.7 years both funds cover.
CCEF vs VTI Performance
Calamos CEF Income & Arbitrage ETF (CCEF) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CCEF returned +7.28% while VTI returned +15.74%. Year to date, CCEF is up 4.96% versus a gain of 12.25% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 9.9% for CCEF. 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 -14.1% for CCEF and -19.3% 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CCEF charges 3.19% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $319 vs $3 annually, a gap of $316 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CCEF currently yields 7.86% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 56 holdings in CCEF and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 96.7% 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 56 positions we hold weights for in CCEF and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 58 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for CCEF (97.5% of the fund), and 54 for CCEF that do not appear in VTI (95.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CCEF 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, CCEF or VTI?
CCEF has an expense ratio of 3.19% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $316 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CCEF or VTI?
Over the past year CCEF returned +7.28% vs +15.74% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CCEF or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 9.9% for CCEF. Worst drawdown: CCEF -14.1% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both CCEF and VTI?
CCEF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, CCEF or VTI?
CCEF yields 7.86% while VTI yields 1.03%, so CCEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than CCEF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.7%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.