CHY vs VTI
Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, CHY or VTI?
Convertibles against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CHY 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 | CHY | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.84% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.97% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 620 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +17.06%Best | +11.65% |
| 1Y Return | +24.60%Best | +17.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.74% | +20.35%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.77% | +11.72%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 14.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -66.9% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,624 | $17,404Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Convertible | Equity |
| Style | Convertibles | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 28, 2003 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 28, 2003 to Sep 10, 2026 (23.3 years).
CHY 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 23.3 years both funds cover.
CHY vs VTI Performance
Calamos Convertible and High Income Fund (CHY) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CHY returned +24.60% while VTI returned +17.34%. Year to date, CHY is up 17.06% versus a gain of 11.65% for VTI.
Over three years, CHY compounded at +13.74% per year against +20.35% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.77% and +11.72% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.87% annualized vs +1.43%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CHY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 14.9% 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 -66.9% for CHY 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CHY charges 1.84% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $184 vs $3 annually, a gap of $181 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CHY currently yields 3.97% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 512 holdings in CHY and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 120.2% and 90.6% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 11 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 242 days apart, CHY as of Oct 31, 2025 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
11 positions in common, counted across the 512 positions we hold weights for in CHY and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 620 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CHY | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc. | 0.96% | 0.25% | 0.71% |
| KKRKkr & Co. Inc. Class a | 0.86% | 0.08% | 0.78% |
| ARESAres Management Corp Preferred Stock 10/27 6.75 | 0.89% | 0.03% | 0.86% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 0.79% | 0.07% | 0.72% |
| ALBAlbemarle Corp. | 0.67% | 0.02% | 0.65% |
| JAZZJazz Investments I Ltd Company Guar 09/30 3.125 | 0.52% | 0.02% | 0.50% |
| QXOQxo Inc - Common | 0.47% | 0.02% | 0.45% |
| CCitigroup Inc 6.875 11/73 6.88 2173-11-15 | 0.06% | 0.32% | 0.26% |
| WOLFEsc Wolfspeed + Common Stock | 0.34% | 0.00% | 0.34% |
| TMUST-Mobile Usa Inc Esrw Usd Npv Ref Sm#585558 | 0.02% | 0.10% | 0.08% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CHY 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, CHY or VTI?
CHY has an expense ratio of 1.84% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $181 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CHY or VTI?
Over the past year CHY returned +24.60% vs +17.34% for VTI, so CHY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), CHY annualized +1.43% vs +9.87% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CHY or VTI?
CHY has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 14.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: CHY -66.9% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both CHY and VTI?
CHY and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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, CHY or VTI?
CHY yields 3.97% while VTI yields 1.03%, so CHY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than CHY?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CHY 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.