DEM vs VTI
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DEM or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DEM led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 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 | DEM | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.63% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $4.2B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.03% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 518 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +22.23%Best | +12.57% |
| 1Y Return | +25.62%Best | +17.22% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +18.13% | +20.87%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +10.17% | +11.86%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 19.2% | 16.0%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.0% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,230 | $17,514Best |
| Fund Family | WisdomTree Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 13, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 13, 2007 to Sep 11, 2026 (19.2 years).
DEM 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 19.2 years both funds cover.
DEM vs VTI Performance
WisdomTree Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund (DEM) is an ETF from WisdomTree Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DEM returned +25.62% while VTI returned +17.22%. Year to date, DEM is up 22.23% versus a gain of 12.57% for VTI.
Over three years, DEM compounded at +18.13% per year against +20.87% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +10.17% and +11.86% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.06% annualized vs +1.99%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 19.2% compared with 16.0% 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 -57.0% for DEM and -56.6% 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 0.74. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DEM charges 0.63% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $63 vs $3 annually, a gap of $60 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DEM currently yields 4.03% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of DEM's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% 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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 508 positions we hold weights for in DEM and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 518 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in DEM | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRMPrima Marine Pcl-Nvdr | 0.09% | 0.00% | 0.09% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DEM 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, DEM or VTI?
DEM has an expense ratio of 0.63% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $60 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DEM or VTI?
Over the past year DEM returned +25.62% vs +17.22% for VTI, so DEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), DEM annualized +1.99% vs +9.06% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DEM or VTI?
DEM has been the more volatile fund at 19.2% annualized versus 16.0% for VTI. Worst drawdown: DEM -57.0% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both DEM and VTI?
DEM and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.74, 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, DEM or VTI?
DEM yields 4.03% while VTI yields 1.03%, so DEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DEM?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. DEM led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.