DBEF vs VTI
Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DBEF or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DBEF led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window. DBEF is less concentrated, with 13.7% 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 | DBEF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.35% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $9.4B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.24% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 691 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +13.34%Best | +13.10% |
| 1Y Return | +22.87%Best | +17.01% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.99% | +22.26%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.38%Best | +11.98% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 12.5%Best | 14.7% |
| Max Drawdown | -32.5%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,736Best | $17,608 |
| Top 10 Weight | 13.7%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 9, 2011 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 9, 2011 to Sep 24, 2026 (15.3 years).
DBEF 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 15.3 years both funds cover.
DBEF vs VTI Performance
Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF (DBEF) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DBEF returned +22.87% while VTI returned +17.01%. Year to date, DBEF is up 13.34% versus a gain of 13.10% for VTI.
Over three years, DBEF compounded at +18.99% per year against +22.26% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +13.38% and +11.98% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.56% annualized vs +10.28%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.7% compared with 12.5% for DBEF. 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 -32.5% for DBEF 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 0.79. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DBEF charges 0.35% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $35 vs $3 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DBEF currently yields 2.24% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 660 holdings in DBEF and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 97.9% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 660 positions we hold weights for in DBEF and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 691 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for DBEF (97.5% of the fund), and 4 for DBEF that do not appear in VTI (0.8%).
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 DBEF 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, DBEF or VTI?
DBEF has an expense ratio of 0.35% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DBEF or VTI?
Over the past year DBEF returned +22.87% vs +17.01% for VTI, so DBEF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), DBEF annualized +10.28% vs +12.56% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DBEF or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.7% annualized versus 12.5% for DBEF. Worst drawdown: DBEF -32.5% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both DBEF and VTI?
DBEF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.79, 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, DBEF or VTI?
DBEF yields 2.24% while VTI yields 1.03%, so DBEF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DBEF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DBEF led over 1Y and 5Y, VTI over 3Y and the full window. DBEF is less concentrated, with 13.7% 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.