EMOT vs VTI
First Trust S&P 500 Economic Moat ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EMOT or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. EMOT is less concentrated, with 23.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | EMOT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.60% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.06% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 102 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +9.39% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.18% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 11.6%Best | 12.0% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.4%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 2.3 years | $13,224 | $14,550Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 23.3%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | First Trust Portfolios (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 26, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 27, 2024 to Oct 2, 2026 (2.3 years).
EMOT 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 2.3 years both funds cover.
EMOT vs VTI Performance
First Trust S&P 500 Economic Moat ETF (EMOT) is an ETF from First Trust Portfolios (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EMOT returned +8.18% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, EMOT is up 9.39% 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 12.0% compared with 11.6% for EMOT. 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 -16.4% for EMOT 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EMOT charges 0.60% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $60 vs $3 annually, a gap of $57 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EMOT currently yields 1.06% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
99.7% of EMOT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 37.9% of VTI's money is in holdings EMOT also owns.
Most of EMOT is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, EMOT 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.
50 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in EMOT and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 102 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,100 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for EMOT (59.5% of the fund), and 0 for EMOT that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EMOT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp | 2.17% | 6.40% | 4.23% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.24% | 6.29% | 4.05% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.46% | 4.79% | 2.33% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.11% | 3.65% | 1.54% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.93% | 2.56% | 0.63% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 1.87% | 2.31% | 0.44% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.26% | 1.70% | 0.56% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.99% | 1.35% | 0.64% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 2.26% | 0.83% | 1.43% |
| MAMastercard Inc | 2.31% | 0.63% | 1.68% |
99.7% of EMOT is already inside VTI.
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, EMOT or VTI?
EMOT has an expense ratio of 0.60% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $57 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EMOT or VTI?
Over the past year EMOT returned +8.18% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), EMOT annualized +12.92% vs +17.71% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EMOT or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.0% annualized versus 11.6% for EMOT. Worst drawdown: EMOT -16.4% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both EMOT and VTI?
EMOT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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 EMOT and VTI?
99.7% of EMOT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 37.9% of VTI's is in holdings EMOT also owns. They hold 50 positions in common, counted across the 50 positions we hold weights for in EMOT and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, EMOT or VTI?
EMOT yields 1.06% while VTI yields 1.03%, so EMOT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EMOT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. EMOT is less concentrated, with 23.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.