DSL vs VTI
DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, DSL or VTI?
High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 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 | DSL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 11.56% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 491 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -0.21% | +12.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.30% | +16.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.15% | +20.83%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +0.24% | +11.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.7% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -58.7% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,121 | $17,537Best |
| Fund Family | DoubleLine Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 26, 2013 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 26, 2013 to Sep 14, 2026 (13.4 years).
DSL 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
DSL vs VTI Performance
DoubleLine Income Solutions Fund (DSL) is an ETF from DoubleLine Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year DSL returned -7.30% while VTI returned +16.31%. Year to date, DSL is down 0.21% versus a gain of 12.08% for VTI.
Over three years, DSL compounded at +6.15% per year against +20.83% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +0.24% and +11.89% respectively. Across the full 13-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.71% annualized vs -2.04%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
DSL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.7% compared with 14.8% 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 -58.7% for DSL 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 0.68. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
DSL charges 3.20% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $320 vs $3 annually, a gap of $317 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, DSL currently yields 11.56% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 5 holdings in DSL and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 1.2% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
The two holdings books were reported 304 days apart, DSL as of Sep 30, 2025 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.
0 positions in common, counted across the 5 positions we hold weights for in DSL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 491 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of DSL 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, DSL or VTI?
DSL has an expense ratio of 3.20% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $317 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, DSL or VTI?
Over the past year DSL returned -7.30% vs +16.31% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (13 years), DSL annualized -2.04% vs +12.71% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, DSL or VTI?
DSL has been the more volatile fund at 15.7% annualized versus 14.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: DSL -58.7% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both DSL and VTI?
DSL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.68, 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, DSL or VTI?
DSL yields 11.56% while VTI yields 1.03%, so DSL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than DSL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.