ECAT vs VTI
BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ECAT or VTI?
Equity-oriented Balanced 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 | ECAT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.43% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.5B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 22.11% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,008 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +8.33% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.67% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.07% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.32% | +12.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 15.9%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -32.2% | -25.4%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,912 | $17,908Best |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Equity-oriented Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 28, 2021 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 28, 2021 to Sep 18, 2026 (5 years).
ECAT 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 5 years both funds cover.
ECAT vs VTI Performance
BlackRock ESG Capital Allocation Term Trust (ECAT) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ECAT returned +8.67% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, ECAT is up 8.33% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, ECAT compounded at +19.07% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.32% and +12.36% respectively.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ECAT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 15.9% 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 -32.2% for ECAT and -25.4% 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ECAT charges 1.43% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $143 vs $3 annually, a gap of $140 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ECAT currently yields 22.11% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 51.6% of VTI's money is in holdings ECAT also owns.
Stated as a floor: for ECAT, our book for it covers 79.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 212 days apart, ECAT as of Dec 31, 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.
97 positions in common, counted across the 549 positions we hold weights for in ECAT and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,008 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ECAT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 4.02% | 6.40% | 2.38% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.61% | 6.29% | 3.68% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 3.85% | 4.79% | 0.94% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc | 3.04% | 2.31% | 0.73% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 1.30% | 3.65% | 2.35% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.45% | 2.56% | 1.11% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 2.13% | 1.35% | 0.78% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 1.01% | 1.70% | 0.69% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 1.17% | 1.31% | 0.14% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 1.70% | 0.63% | 1.07% |
51.6% of VTI is already inside ECAT.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, ECAT or VTI?
ECAT has an expense ratio of 1.43% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $140 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ECAT or VTI?
Over the past year ECAT returned +8.67% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ECAT or VTI?
ECAT has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 15.9% for VTI. Worst drawdown: ECAT -32.2% vs VTI -25.4%.
Should I hold both ECAT and VTI?
ECAT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between ECAT and VTI?
At least 51.6% of VTI's money is in holdings ECAT also owns. Our book for ECAT is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 97 positions in common, counted across the 549 positions we hold weights for in ECAT and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, ECAT or VTI?
ECAT yields 22.11% while VTI yields 1.03%, so ECAT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ECAT?
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.