DAK vs VTI
Dakota Active Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DAK or VTI?
Nearly the same fund. VTI costs less.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. DAK is less concentrated, with 32.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | DAK | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.43% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $44M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.73% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 140 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +12.17% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.26% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.8%Best | 12.2% |
| Max Drawdown | -7.9%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.1 years | $11,973 | $12,088Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.9%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Dakota | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 30, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 30, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.1 years).
DAK 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 1.1 years both funds cover.
DAK vs VTI Performance
Dakota Active Equity ETF (DAK) is an ETF from Dakota and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DAK returned +15.26% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, DAK is up 12.17% versus a gain of 12.30% 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 12.2% compared with 11.8% for DAK. 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 -7.9% for DAK 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 0.98. They move almost in lockstep, so holding both mostly duplicates the same exposure.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DAK charges 0.43% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $43 vs $3 annually, a gap of $40 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DAK currently yields 0.73% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
79.2% of DAK's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 54.2% of VTI's money is in holdings DAK also owns.
Most of DAK is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
117 positions in common, counted across the 139 positions we hold weights for in DAK and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 140 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,033 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for DAK (43.3% of the fund), and 19 for DAK that do not appear in VTI (20.3%).
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 DAK | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 5.92% | 6.29% | 0.37% |
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.43% | 6.40% | 3.97% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.28% | 4.79% | 1.51% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.39% | 3.65% | 1.26% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.32% | 2.31% | 1.01% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 3.03% | 1.31% | 1.72% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 1.18% | 2.90% | 1.72% |
| AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc | 2.62% | 1.08% | 1.54% |
| ADIAnalog Devices, Inc. | 2.50% | 0.25% | 2.25% |
| BKBank Of New York Mellon Corp | 2.53% | 0.15% | 2.38% |
79.2% of DAK 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, DAK or VTI?
DAK has an expense ratio of 0.43% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $40 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DAK or VTI?
Over the past year DAK returned +15.26% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), DAK annualized +17.79% vs +18.81% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DAK or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.2% annualized versus 11.8% for DAK. Worst drawdown: DAK -7.9% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both DAK and VTI?
DAK and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.98, so they move almost identically. What is left to separate them is the fee and the index each one tracks. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between DAK and VTI?
79.2% of DAK's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 54.2% of VTI's is in holdings DAK also owns. They hold 117 positions in common, counted across the 139 positions we hold weights for in DAK and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, DAK or VTI?
DAK yields 0.73% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DAK?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. The two have moved almost in lockstep, correlation 0.98. DAK is less concentrated, with 32.9% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.