CSQ vs VTI
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, CSQ or VTI?
Equity-oriented Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CSQ 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 | CSQ | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.03% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5.2B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 5.64% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 816 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +15.15%Best | +13.59% |
| 1Y Return | +21.19%Best | +20.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.06%Best | +20.95% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.50% | +11.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.3% | 15.1%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -72.7% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,474 | $17,474Best |
| Fund Family | Calamos Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 26, 2004 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 29, 2004 to Sep 4, 2026 (22.4 years).
CSQ 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.
CSQ vs VTI Performance
Calamos Strategic Total Return Fund (CSQ) is an ETF from Calamos Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CSQ returned +21.19% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, CSQ is up 15.15% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, CSQ compounded at +21.06% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +10.50% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.43% annualized vs +3.47%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CSQ has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.3% compared with 15.1% 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 -72.7% for CSQ 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 0.89. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CSQ charges 2.03% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $203 vs $3 annually, a gap of $200 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CSQ currently yields 5.64% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 452 holdings in CSQ and 2,788 in VTI, totalling 93.6% and 92.3% 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, 263 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 150 days apart, CSQ as of Jan 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.
263 positions in common, counted across the 452 positions we hold weights for in CSQ and 2,788 in VTI, against full books of 816 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CSQ | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 5.26% | 6.32% | 1.06% |
| AAPLApple Inc Ord | 4.77% | 5.84% | 1.07% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 4.08% | 3.81% | 0.27% |
| GOOGL Alphabet Inc. Class A | 4.49% | 2.88% | 1.61% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 3.31% | 3.17% | 0.14% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 2.12% | 2.46% | 0.34% |
| METAMeta Platform Inc | 2.18% | 1.70% | 0.48% |
| TSLATesla Motors Inc | 1.68% | 1.63% | 0.05% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.31% | 1.40% | 0.09% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 0.89% | 1.79% | 0.90% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of CSQ 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, CSQ or VTI?
CSQ has an expense ratio of 2.03% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $200 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CSQ or VTI?
Over the past year CSQ returned +21.19% vs +20.00% for VTI, so CSQ leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), CSQ annualized +3.47% vs +9.43% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CSQ or VTI?
CSQ has been the more volatile fund at 20.3% annualized versus 15.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: CSQ -72.7% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both CSQ and VTI?
CSQ and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.89, 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, CSQ or VTI?
CSQ yields 5.64% while VTI yields 1.07%, so CSQ currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than CSQ?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CSQ 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.