EFAV vs VTI
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EFAV or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
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 | EFAV | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.20% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5.5B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.04% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 277 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +8.74% | +12.95%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.27% | +19.17%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +14.86% | +20.86%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.26% | +11.72%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.1%Best | 14.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -38.3% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,547 | $17,404Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Oct 18, 2011 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 20, 2011 to Sep 8, 2026 (14.9 years).
EFAV 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 14.9 years both funds cover.
EFAV vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI EAFE Min Vol Factor ETF (EFAV) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EFAV returned +11.27% while VTI returned +19.17%. Year to date, EFAV is up 8.74% versus a gain of 12.95% for VTI.
Over three years, EFAV compounded at +14.86% per year against +20.86% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.26% and +11.72% respectively. Across the full 15-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.48% annualized vs +7.13%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.3% compared with 11.1% for EFAV. 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 -38.3% for EFAV 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 0.67. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EFAV charges 0.20% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $3 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EFAV currently yields 3.04% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of EFAV'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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 253 positions we hold weights for in EFAV and 2,788 in VTI, against full books of 277 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EFAV 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, EFAV or VTI?
EFAV has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EFAV or VTI?
Over the past year EFAV returned +11.27% vs +19.17% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (15 years), EFAV annualized +7.13% vs +13.48% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EFAV or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.3% annualized versus 11.1% for EFAV. Worst drawdown: EFAV -38.3% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both EFAV and VTI?
EFAV and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.67, 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, EFAV or VTI?
EFAV yields 3.04% while VTI yields 1.07%, so EFAV currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EFAV?
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.