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.
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 | 16.48% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 147 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +10.30% | +13.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +27.39%Best | +20.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.78% | +20.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.82%Best | +11.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.9% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.8% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,278Best | $17,474 |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Multi Alternative | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 27, 2004 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 28, 2004 to Sep 4, 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 +27.39% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, CII is up 10.30% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, CII compounded at +19.78% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.82% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.46% annualized vs +3.24%.
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 16.48% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 94.0% of CII's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 92.3% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
Most of CII is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, CII as of Mar 31, 2026 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.
33 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in CII and 2,788 in VTI, against full books of 147 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CII | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 7.11% | 6.32% | 0.79% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 6.53% | 3.17% | 3.36% |
| AAPLApple Inc Ord | 3.72% | 5.84% | 2.12% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 5.31% | 3.81% | 1.50% |
| GOOGL Alphabet Inc. Class A | 4.90% | 2.88% | 2.02% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 4.60% | 1.70% | 2.90% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc Sr Un**exchange & Consent* | 2.60% | 2.46% | 0.14% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 2.64% | 1.79% | 0.85% |
| CIENCiena Corporation | 3.92% | 0.10% | 3.82% |
| V'visa Inc., Class 'a'' | 3.24% | 0.77% | 2.47% |
94.0% 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 +27.39% vs +20.00% for VTI, so CII leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), CII annualized +3.24% vs +9.46% 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?
At least 94.0% of CII's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 33 positions in common, counted across the 37 positions we hold weights for in CII and 2,788 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, CII or VTI?
CII yields 16.48% while VTI yields 1.07%, 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. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.