CEE vs VTI
The Central and Eastern Europe Fund Inc. vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, CEE or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CEE led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.5%.
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 | CEE | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.18% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $147M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.70% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 60 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +5.44% | +13.10%Best |
| 1Y Return | +26.46%Best | +17.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +33.34%Best | +22.26% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | -4.96% | +11.98%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 31.1% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -83.0% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $7,754 | $17,608Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 59.5% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | DWS ETF Trust | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 6, 1990 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 24, 2026 (25.3 years).
CEE 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 25.3 years both funds cover.
CEE vs VTI Performance
The Central and Eastern Europe Fund Inc. (CEE) is an ETF from DWS ETF Trust and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CEE returned +26.46% while VTI returned +17.01%. Year to date, CEE is up 5.44% versus a gain of 13.10% for VTI.
Over three years, CEE compounded at +33.34% per year against +22.26% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -4.96% and +11.98% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.06% annualized vs +6.06%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CEE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 31.1% compared with 15.3% 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 -83.0% for CEE 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 0.64. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CEE charges 1.18% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $118 vs $3 annually, a gap of $115 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CEE currently yields 1.70% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 50 holdings in CEE and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.7% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 154 days apart, CEE as of Feb 27, 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in CEE and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 60 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 CEE (97.5% of the fund), and 1 for CEE that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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 CEE 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, CEE or VTI?
CEE has an expense ratio of 1.18% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $115 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CEE or VTI?
Over the past year CEE returned +26.46% vs +17.01% for VTI, so CEE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), CEE annualized +6.06% vs +8.06% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CEE or VTI?
CEE has been the more volatile fund at 31.1% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: CEE -83.0% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both CEE and VTI?
CEE and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.64, 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, CEE or VTI?
CEE yields 1.70% while VTI yields 1.03%, so CEE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than CEE?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CEE led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 59.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.