EMF vs VTI
Templeton Emerging Markets Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EMF or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EMF led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over 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 | EMF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $6,444.06 | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.95% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 100 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +36.55%Best | +13.59% |
| 1Y Return | +65.98%Best | +20.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +35.00%Best | +20.95% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.20%Best | +11.81% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 27.0% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -72.5% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,588Best | $17,474 |
| Fund Family | Franklin Templeton Investments (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Feb 27, 1987 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 4, 2026 (25.3 years).
EMF 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 25.3 years both funds cover.
EMF vs VTI Performance
Templeton Emerging Markets Fund (EMF) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EMF returned +65.98% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, EMF is up 36.55% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, EMF compounded at +35.00% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +13.20% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.09% annualized vs +5.96%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EMF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 27.0% compared with 15.3% 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 -72.5% for EMF and -56.6% 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMF charges 1.50% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $150 vs $3 annually, a gap of $147 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMF currently yields 6.95% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.6% of EMF'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 89 positions we hold weights for in EMF and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 100 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EMF | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| CTSHCognizant Technology Solutions Corp. Class A | 0.55% | 0.03% | 0.52% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EMF 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, EMF or VTI?
EMF has an expense ratio of 1.50% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $147 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMF or VTI?
Over the past year EMF returned +65.98% vs +20.00% for VTI, so EMF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), EMF annualized +5.96% vs +8.09% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMF or VTI?
EMF has been the more volatile fund at 27.0% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: EMF -72.5% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both EMF and VTI?
EMF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, EMF or VTI?
EMF yields 6.95% while VTI yields 1.07%, so EMF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EMF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EMF led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.