CTEF vs VTI
Castellan Targeted Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, CTEF or VTI?
CTEF has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CTEF led over 1Y 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 | CTEF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $651M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.06% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 47 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +31.14%Best | +13.59% |
| 1Y Return | +49.04%Best | +20.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.95% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 22.4% | 11.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.0% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.2 years | $17,713Best | $13,064 |
| Fund Family | Castellan ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 17, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 18, 2025 to Sep 4, 2026 (1.2 years).
CTEF 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 1.2 years both funds cover.
CTEF vs VTI Performance
Castellan Targeted Equity ETF (CTEF) is an ETF from Castellan ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year CTEF returned +49.04% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, CTEF is up 31.14% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
CTEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 22.4% compared with 11.7% 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 -15.0% for CTEF and -8.9% 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
CTEF charges 0.45% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $3 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, CTEF currently yields 0.06% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 67.0% of CTEF'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.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 52 days apart, CTEF as of Aug 21, 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.
16 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTEF and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 47 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in CTEF | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 4.13% | 6.32% | 2.19% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 5.29% | 1.79% | 3.50% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.58% | 3.81% | 1.23% |
| LRCXLrcx Uw Equity | 4.97% | 0.74% | 4.23% |
| FTNTFortinet Inc | 5.17% | 0.13% | 5.04% |
| VIRTVirtu Financial Inc Class A | 5.25% | 0.00% | 5.25% |
| FIXComfort Systems USA Inc. | 4.99% | 0.10% | 4.89% |
| THCTenet Healthcare Corp Common Stock Usd 0.05 | 5.00% | 0.02% | 4.98% |
| BFHBread Financial Holdings, Inc. | 4.72% | 0.00% | 4.72% |
| EXPEExpedia Group Inc (consumer Discretionary) | 4.60% | 0.04% | 4.56% |
67.0% of CTEF 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, CTEF or VTI?
CTEF has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, CTEF or VTI?
Over the past year CTEF returned +49.04% vs +20.00% for VTI, so CTEF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), CTEF annualized +61.03% vs +24.95% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, CTEF or VTI?
CTEF has been the more volatile fund at 22.4% annualized versus 11.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: CTEF -15.0% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both CTEF and VTI?
CTEF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 CTEF and VTI?
At least 67.0% of CTEF's money is in holdings VTI also owns. Our book for VTI is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 16 positions in common, counted across the 23 positions we hold weights for in CTEF and 2,787 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, CTEF or VTI?
CTEF yields 0.06% while VTI yields 1.07%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than CTEF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. CTEF led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.