CHW vs VTI
Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, CHW or VTI?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CHW led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 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 | CHW | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.27% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $868M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.68% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 775 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +13.46%Best | +11.06% |
| 1Y Return | +16.38%Best | +15.41% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.87%Best | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.37% | +11.52%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.1% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -73.0% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,384 | $17,249Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 27, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 27, 2007 to Sep 16, 2026 (19.2 years).
CHW 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 19.2 years both funds cover.
CHW vs VTI Performance
Calamos Global Dynamic Income Fund (CHW) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CHW returned +16.38% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, CHW is up 13.46% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, CHW compounded at +21.87% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.37% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.12% annualized vs -0.56%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CHW has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.1% compared with 16.0% 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 -73.0% for CHW 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CHW charges 2.27% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $227 vs $3 annually, a gap of $224 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CHW currently yields 2.68% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 35.5% of VTI's money is in holdings CHW also owns.
Stated as a floor: for CHW, our book for it covers 88.7% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 181 days apart, CHW 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.
207 positions in common, counted across the 499 positions we hold weights for in CHW and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 775 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CHW | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 3.26% | 6.40% | 3.14% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 0.95% | 4.79% | 3.84% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.64% | 2.90% | 0.26% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.17% | 3.65% | 2.48% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 0.73% | 2.56% | 1.83% |
| BABoeing Co | 2.24% | 0.24% | 2.00% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 0.50% | 1.70% | 1.20% |
| TSLATesla Inc | 0.97% | 1.22% | 0.25% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 0.79% | 1.35% | 0.56% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 0.57% | 1.31% | 0.74% |
35.5% of VTI is already inside CHW.
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, CHW or VTI?
CHW has an expense ratio of 2.27% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $224 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CHW or VTI?
Over the past year CHW returned +16.38% vs +15.41% for VTI, so CHW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), CHW annualized -0.56% vs +9.12% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CHW or VTI?
CHW has been the more volatile fund at 23.1% annualized versus 16.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: CHW -73.0% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both CHW and VTI?
CHW and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 CHW and VTI?
At least 35.5% of VTI's money is in holdings CHW also owns. Our book for CHW is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 207 positions in common, counted across the 499 positions we hold weights for in CHW and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, CHW or VTI?
CHW yields 2.68% while VTI yields 1.03%, so CHW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than CHW?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CHW led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.