DABS vs VTI

DABS vs VTI

Which is better, DABS or VTI?

VTI has been ahead.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTI

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

MetricDABSVTI
Expense Ratio0.40%0.03%Best
AUM$150M$666.9B
Dividend Yield4.87%1.03%
Holdings1483,543
YTD Return+1.47%+12.57%Best
1Y Return+2.57%+17.22%Best
3Y Return (annualized)-+20.87%
5Y Return (annualized)-+11.86%
Volatility (annualized)2.0%Best11.9%
Max Drawdown-1.5%Best-14.9%
$10,000 over 1.5 years$10,690$13,429Best
Fund FamilyDoubleLine FundsVanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
Style-Large Cap Blend
InceptionFeb 28, 2025May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.5 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 4, 2025 to Sep 11, 2026 (1.5 years).

DABS 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 1.5 years both funds cover.

DABS vs VTI Performance

DoubleLine Asset-Backed Securities ETF (DABS) is an ETF from DoubleLine Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DABS returned +2.57% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, DABS is up 1.47% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.9% compared with 2.0% for DABS. 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 -1.5% for DABS and -14.9% 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 0.43. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

DABS charges 0.40% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $3 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DABS currently yields 4.87% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 30 holdings in DABS and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 21.6% and 90.6% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

The two holdings books were reported 52 days apart, DABS 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.

0 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in DABS and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 148 and 3,543.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of DABS and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

DABSVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, DABS or VTI?

DABS has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, DABS or VTI?

Over the past year DABS returned +2.57% vs +17.22% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), DABS annualized +4.55% vs +21.72% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, DABS or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 2.0% for DABS. Worst drawdown: DABS -1.5% vs VTI -14.9%.

Should I hold both DABS and VTI?

DABS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.43, 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, DABS or VTI?

DABS yields 4.87% while VTI yields 1.03%, so DABS currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than DABS?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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.