ELM vs VTI
Elm Market Navigator ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ELM or VTI?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 90.3%.
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 | ELM | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.24% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $593M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.50% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 40 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +7.08% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +9.52% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 7.7%Best | 12.8% |
| Max Drawdown | -9.0%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $11,985 | $12,800Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 90.3% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Elm Partners Management LLC | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 10, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 11, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.6 years).
ELM 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
ELM vs VTI Performance
Elm Market Navigator ETF (ELM) is an ETF from Elm Partners Management LLC and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ELM returned +9.52% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, ELM is up 7.08% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.8% compared with 7.7% for ELM. 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 -9.0% for ELM and -19.3% 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 0.82. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ELM charges 0.24% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $24 vs $3 annually, a gap of $21 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ELM currently yields 2.50% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 19 holdings in ELM and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 100.0% 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 46 days apart, ELM as of Sep 15, 2026 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 19 positions we hold weights for in ELM and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 40 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for ELM (97.5% of the fund), and 18 for ELM that do not appear in VTI (99.1%).
Some of those will be the same company recorded under a different code in one of the two books, so the real difference in what you would own is no larger than this and may be smaller. We do not name the individual positions here for that reason.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ELM 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, ELM or VTI?
ELM has an expense ratio of 0.24% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $21 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ELM or VTI?
Over the past year ELM returned +9.52% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ELM annualized +11.98% vs +16.68% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ELM or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.8% annualized versus 7.7% for ELM. Worst drawdown: ELM -9.0% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both ELM and VTI?
ELM and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.82, 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, ELM or VTI?
ELM yields 2.50% while VTI yields 1.03%, so ELM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ELM?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 90.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.