ECON vs VTI
Columbia Research Enhanced Emerging Economies ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ECON or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ECON 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 | ECON | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.47% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $316M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.51% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 376 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +29.57%Best | +13.59% |
| 1Y Return | +49.09%Best | +20.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +22.32%Best | +20.95% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.88% | +11.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3% | 14.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -45.4% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,612 | $17,474Best |
| Fund Family | Columbia Threadneedle Investments | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 14, 2010 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 14, 2010 to Sep 4, 2026 (16 years).
ECON 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 16 years both funds cover.
ECON vs VTI Performance
Columbia Research Enhanced Emerging Economies ETF (ECON) is an ETF from Columbia Threadneedle Investments and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ECON returned +49.09% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, ECON is up 29.57% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, ECON compounded at +22.32% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +7.88% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.10% annualized vs +4.72%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ECON has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 14.5% 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 -45.4% for ECON 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 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ECON charges 0.47% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $47 vs $3 annually, a gap of $44 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ECON currently yields 1.51% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.2% of ECON'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.
1 positions in common, counted across the 347 positions we hold weights for in ECON and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 376 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ECON | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| HALHalliburton Co. | 0.21% | 0.04% | 0.17% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ECON 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, ECON or VTI?
ECON has an expense ratio of 0.47% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $44 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ECON or VTI?
Over the past year ECON returned +49.09% vs +20.00% for VTI, so ECON leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), ECON annualized +4.72% vs +13.10% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ECON or VTI?
ECON has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 14.5% for VTI. Worst drawdown: ECON -45.4% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both ECON and VTI?
ECON and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, 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, ECON or VTI?
ECON yields 1.51% while VTI yields 1.07%, so ECON currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ECON?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ECON 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.