CII vs VTI
BlackRock Enhanced Capital and Income Fund, Inc vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, CII or VTI?
Multi Alternative against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CII led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%.
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 | CII | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.91% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.1B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 16.10% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 147 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +8.05% | +12.43%Best |
| 1Y Return | +22.66%Best | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.12% | +22.42%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.59%Best | +12.37% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.9% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.8% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,910Best | $17,916 |
| Top 10 Weight | 46.5% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 27, 2004 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 28, 2004 to Sep 28, 2026 (22.4 years).
CII 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 22.4 years both funds cover.
CII vs VTI Performance
BlackRock Enhanced Capital and Income Fund, Inc (CII) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CII returned +22.66% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, CII is up 8.05% versus a gain of 12.43% for VTI.
Over three years, CII compounded at +20.12% per year against +22.42% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +13.59% and +12.37% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.38% annualized vs +3.14%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CII has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.9% 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 -64.8% for CII 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 0.81. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CII charges 0.91% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $91 vs $3 annually, a gap of $88 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CII currently yields 16.10% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
96.0% of CII's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 36.1% of VTI's money is in holdings CII also owns.
Most of CII is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, CII as of Mar 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.
34 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in CII and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 147 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,116 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for CII (61.3% of the fund), and 2 for CII that do not appear in VTI (3.1%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CII | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 7.11% | 6.40% | 0.71% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 6.53% | 3.65% | 2.88% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 5.31% | 4.79% | 0.52% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 3.72% | 6.29% | 2.57% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 4.90% | 2.90% | 2.00% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 4.60% | 1.70% | 2.90% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc Sr Un**exchange & Consent* | 2.60% | 2.56% | 0.04% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 3.24% | 0.83% | 2.41% |
| CIENCiena Corp | 3.92% | 0.07% | 3.85% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.64% | 1.29% | 1.35% |
96.0% of CII is already inside VTI.
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, CII or VTI?
CII has an expense ratio of 0.91% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $88 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CII or VTI?
Over the past year CII returned +22.66% vs +15.92% for VTI, so CII leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), CII annualized +3.14% vs +9.38% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CII or VTI?
CII has been the more volatile fund at 17.9% annualized versus 15.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: CII -64.8% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both CII and VTI?
CII and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.81, 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 CII and VTI?
96.0% of CII's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 36.1% of VTI's is in holdings CII also owns. They hold 34 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in CII and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, CII or VTI?
CII yields 16.10% while VTI yields 1.03%, so CII currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than CII?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CII led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 46.5%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.