CHI vs VTI
Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, CHI or VTI?
Convertibles against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CHI led over 1Y, VTI over 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 | CHI | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.83% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.4B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.02% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 613 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +14.14%Best | +12.51% |
| 1Y Return | +16.12%Best | +15.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.84% | +22.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.33% | +12.31%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.6% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.3% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,361 | $17,869Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 26, 2002 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 28, 2002 to Oct 1, 2026 (24.3 years).
CHI 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 24.3 years both funds cover.
CHI vs VTI Performance
Calamos Convertible Opportunities and Income Fund (CHI) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CHI returned +16.12% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, CHI is up 14.14% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, CHI compounded at +13.84% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.33% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 24-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.35% annualized vs +1.11%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CHI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.6% compared with 15.2% 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 -73.3% for CHI 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CHI charges 1.83% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $183 vs $3 annually, a gap of $180 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CHI currently yields 4.02% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 12.9% of VTI's money is in holdings CHI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for CHI, our book for it covers 85.2% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and CHI share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, CHI as of Jan 31, 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.
248 positions in common, counted across the 383 positions we hold weights for in CHI and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 613 and 3,524.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CHI | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 0.00% | 4.79% | 4.79% |
| WDCWestern Digital Corp. | 2.69% | 0.26% | 2.43% |
| BABoeing Co | 2.32% | 0.24% | 2.08% |
| LITELumentum Holdings Inc | 2.42% | 0.08% | 2.34% |
| MKSIMks Instruments Inc | 2.06% | 0.03% | 2.03% |
| STXSeagate Technolo | 1.44% | 0.27% | 1.17% |
| UBERUber Technologies Inc | 1.44% | 0.20% | 1.24% |
| BECfd Bloom Energy Corp- A | 1.51% | 0.08% | 1.43% |
| BWXTBwx Technologies, Inc. | 1.48% | 0.02% | 1.46% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 0.34% | 1.08% | 0.74% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CHI 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, CHI or VTI?
CHI has an expense ratio of 1.83% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $180 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CHI or VTI?
Over the past year CHI returned +16.12% vs +15.23% for VTI, so CHI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (24 years), CHI annualized +1.11% vs +9.35% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CHI or VTI?
CHI has been the more volatile fund at 19.6% annualized versus 15.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: CHI -73.3% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both CHI and VTI?
CHI and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 CHI and VTI?
At least 12.9% of VTI's money is in holdings CHI also owns. Our book for CHI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 248 positions in common, counted across the 383 positions we hold weights for in CHI and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, CHI or VTI?
CHI yields 4.02% while VTI yields 1.03%, so CHI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than CHI?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CHI led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.