CSRE vs VTI
Cohen & Steers Real Estate Active ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, CSRE or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.8%.
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 | CSRE | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $572M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.20% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 51 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +7.59% | +13.10%Best |
| 1Y Return | +7.99% | +17.01%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.26% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.98% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1% | 13.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -13.0%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $11,112 | $12,773Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 54.8% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Cohen & Steers Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 3, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 5, 2025 to Sep 24, 2026 (1.6 years).
CSRE 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
CSRE vs VTI Performance
Cohen & Steers Real Estate Active ETF (CSRE) is an ETF from Cohen & Steers Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CSRE returned +7.99% while VTI returned +17.01%. Year to date, CSRE is up 7.59% versus a gain of 13.10% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CSRE has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 13.0% 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 -13.0% for CSRE and -19.3% 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 0.47. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CSRE charges 0.70% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $3 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CSRE currently yields 2.20% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
93.6% of CSRE's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.4% of VTI's money is in holdings CSRE also owns.
Most of CSRE is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
35 positions in common, counted across the 44 positions we hold weights for in CSRE and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 51 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,120 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for CSRE (96.1% of the fund), and 0 for CSRE that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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 CSRE | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLWelltower, Inc. | 15.33% | 0.23% | 15.10% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 7.74% | 0.09% | 7.65% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 6.09% | 0.14% | 5.95% |
| CCICrown Castle International Corp | 4.82% | 0.05% | 4.77% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 4.52% | 0.19% | 4.33% |
| EXRExtra Space Storage Inc. | 3.75% | 0.04% | 3.71% |
| AMTAmerican Tower Corporation | 3.40% | 0.11% | 3.29% |
| EPRTEssential Properties Realty Trust Inc | 3.49% | 0.01% | 3.48% |
| CUBECubesmart | 2.96% | 0.01% | 2.95% |
| ELSEquity Lifestyle Properties, Inc. | 2.74% | 0.02% | 2.72% |
93.6% of CSRE 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, CSRE or VTI?
CSRE has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CSRE or VTI?
Over the past year CSRE returned +7.99% vs +17.01% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), CSRE annualized +6.81% vs +16.53% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CSRE or VTI?
CSRE has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 13.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: CSRE -13.0% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both CSRE and VTI?
CSRE and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.47, 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 CSRE and VTI?
93.6% of CSRE's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.4% of VTI's is in holdings CSRE also owns. They hold 35 positions in common, counted across the 44 positions we hold weights for in CSRE and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, CSRE or VTI?
CSRE yields 2.20% while VTI yields 1.03%, so CSRE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than CSRE?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 54.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.