DBAW vs VTI
Xtrackers MSCI All World ex US Hedged Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DBAW or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DBAW led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window. DBAW is less concentrated, with 13.9% 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 | DBAW | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $328M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.67% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 3,459 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +14.13%Best | +12.51% |
| 1Y Return | +22.70%Best | +15.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +21.44% | +22.50%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +12.66%Best | +12.31% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.1%Best | 14.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -31.4%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,149Best | $17,869 |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.9%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 22, 2014 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 27, 2014 to Oct 1, 2026 (12.7 years).
DBAW 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 12.7 years both funds cover.
DBAW vs VTI Performance
Xtrackers MSCI All World ex US Hedged Equity ETF (DBAW) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DBAW returned +22.70% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, DBAW is up 14.13% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, DBAW compounded at +21.44% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +12.66% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.36% annualized vs +7.51%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% compared with 12.1% for DBAW. 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 -31.4% for DBAW and -35.0% 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DBAW 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, DBAW currently yields 1.67% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of DBAW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings DBAW also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, DBAW as of Sep 15, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
4 positions in common, counted across the 1,704 positions we hold weights for in DBAW and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 3,459 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,149 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for DBAW (97.4% of the fund), and 23 for DBAW that do not appear in VTI (2.2%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DBAW 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, DBAW or VTI?
DBAW 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, DBAW or VTI?
Over the past year DBAW returned +22.70% vs +15.23% for VTI, so DBAW leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), DBAW annualized +7.51% vs +12.36% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DBAW or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 12.1% for DBAW. Worst drawdown: DBAW -31.4% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both DBAW and VTI?
DBAW and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, DBAW or VTI?
DBAW yields 1.67% while VTI yields 1.03%, so DBAW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DBAW?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DBAW led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window. DBAW is less concentrated, with 13.9% 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.