DBEM vs VTI
Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DBEM or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DBEM led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y 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 | DBEM | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.66% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $109M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.31% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 1,174 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +22.62%Best | +13.59% |
| 1Y Return | +40.71%Best | +20.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +23.31%Best | +20.95% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +9.44% | +11.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.7% | 14.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -51.7% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,699 | $17,474Best |
| Fund Family | Xtrackers ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 9, 2011 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 9, 2011 to Sep 4, 2026 (15.2 years).
DBEM 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 15.2 years both funds cover.
DBEM vs VTI Performance
Xtrackers MSCI Emerging Markets Hedged Equity ETF (DBEM) is an ETF from Xtrackers ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DBEM returned +40.71% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, DBEM is up 22.62% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, DBEM compounded at +23.31% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +9.44% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.64% annualized vs +3.86%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DBEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.7% compared with 14.7% 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 -51.7% for DBEM 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 0.42. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DBEM charges 0.66% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $66 vs $3 annually, a gap of $63 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DBEM currently yields 2.31% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of DBEM'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.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 1,154 positions we hold weights for in DBEM and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 1,174 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DBEM 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, DBEM or VTI?
DBEM has an expense ratio of 0.66% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $63 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DBEM or VTI?
Over the past year DBEM returned +40.71% vs +20.00% for VTI, so DBEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), DBEM annualized +3.86% vs +12.64% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DBEM or VTI?
DBEM has been the more volatile fund at 21.7% annualized versus 14.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: DBEM -51.7% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both DBEM and VTI?
DBEM and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.42, 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, DBEM or VTI?
DBEM yields 2.31% while VTI yields 1.07%, so DBEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DBEM?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DBEM led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.