EPEM vs VTI
Harbor Emerging Markets Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EPEM or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EPEM led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%.
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 | EPEM | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.84% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $8M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.85% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 44 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +25.73%Best | +12.30% |
| 1Y Return | +35.75%Best | +16.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +21.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.7% | 11.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -13.3% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.3 years | $15,638Best | $13,095 |
| Top 10 Weight | 49.3% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 4, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.3 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 5, 2025 to Sep 18, 2026 (1.3 years).
EPEM 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 1.3 years both funds cover.
EPEM vs VTI Performance
Harbor Emerging Markets Equity ETF (EPEM) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EPEM returned +35.75% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, EPEM is up 25.73% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EPEM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.7% compared with 11.8% 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 -13.3% for EPEM and -8.9% 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EPEM charges 0.84% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $84 vs $3 annually, a gap of $81 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EPEM currently yields 2.85% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 42 holdings in EPEM and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 96.2% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 42 positions we hold weights for in EPEM and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 44 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for EPEM (97.5% of the fund), and 3 for EPEM that do not appear in VTI (4.5%).
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 EPEM 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, EPEM or VTI?
EPEM has an expense ratio of 0.84% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $81 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EPEM or VTI?
Over the past year EPEM returned +35.75% vs +16.08% for VTI, so EPEM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), EPEM annualized +41.05% vs +23.05% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EPEM or VTI?
EPEM has been the more volatile fund at 17.7% annualized versus 11.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: EPEM -13.3% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both EPEM and VTI?
EPEM and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, EPEM or VTI?
EPEM yields 2.85% while VTI yields 1.03%, so EPEM currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EPEM?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EPEM led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 49.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.