EPSB vs VTI
Harbor SMID Cap Core ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EPSB or VTI?
Mid Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EPSB led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. EPSB is less concentrated, with 26.0% 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 | EPSB | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.88% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $5M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.15% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 59 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +15.22%Best | +14.00% |
| 1Y Return | +18.96%Best | +16.88% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.75% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.68% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 13.1% | 11.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -8.5%Best | -8.9% |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $13,309 | $13,909Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 26.0%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Harbor Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 1, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 2, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026 (1.4 years).
EPSB 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
EPSB vs VTI Performance
Harbor SMID Cap Core ETF (EPSB) is an ETF from Harbor Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EPSB returned +18.96% while VTI returned +16.88%. Year to date, EPSB is up 15.22% versus a gain of 14.00% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EPSB has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 13.1% compared with 11.6% 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 -8.5% for EPSB 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 0.58. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EPSB charges 0.88% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $88 vs $3 annually, a gap of $85 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EPSB currently yields 1.15% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
97.0% of EPSB's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.2% of VTI's money is in holdings EPSB also owns.
Most of EPSB is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
56 positions in common, counted across the 58 positions we hold weights for in EPSB and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 59 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,100 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for EPSB (96.2% of the fund), and 0 for EPSB 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 EPSB | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| MOG.AMoog Inccommon Stock | 3.10% | 0.02% | 3.08% |
| WWDWoodward Inc | 2.80% | 0.03% | 2.77% |
| CRLCharles River Laboratories International Inc | 2.80% | 0.02% | 2.78% |
| RGAReinsurance Group of America, Incorporated | 2.70% | 0.02% | 2.68% |
| RRyder System Inc | 2.70% | 0.01% | 2.69% |
| AROCArchrock, Inc. | 2.60% | 0.01% | 2.59% |
| TDYTeledyne Technologies Inc | 2.40% | 0.04% | 2.36% |
| RJFRaymond James Financial Inc. | 2.30% | 0.04% | 2.26% |
| ARWArrow Electronics Inc. | 2.30% | 0.02% | 2.28% |
| FCFSFirstcash Inc | 2.30% | 0.01% | 2.29% |
97.0% of EPSB 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, EPSB or VTI?
EPSB has an expense ratio of 0.88% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $85 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EPSB or VTI?
Over the past year EPSB returned +18.96% vs +16.88% for VTI, so EPSB leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), EPSB annualized +22.65% vs +26.58% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EPSB or VTI?
EPSB has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 11.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: EPSB -8.5% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both EPSB and VTI?
EPSB and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.58, 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 EPSB and VTI?
97.0% of EPSB's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.2% of VTI's is in holdings EPSB also owns. They hold 56 positions in common, counted across the 58 positions we hold weights for in EPSB and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, EPSB or VTI?
EPSB yields 1.15% while VTI yields 1.03%, so EPSB currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EPSB?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EPSB led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. EPSB is less concentrated, with 26.0% 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.