EPU vs VTI
iShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EPU or VTI?
Mid Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EPU led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.3%.
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 | EPU | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $560M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.86% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 34 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +26.86%Best | +12.30% |
| 1Y Return | +62.10%Best | +16.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +48.21%Best | +21.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +33.81%Best | +12.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 24.6% | 14.8%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -64.6% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $42,899Best | $17,908 |
| Top 10 Weight | 72.3% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 19, 2009 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 22, 2009 to Sep 18, 2026 (17.2 years).
EPU 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 17.2 years both funds cover.
EPU vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI Peru and Global Exposure ETF (EPU) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EPU returned +62.10% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, EPU is up 26.86% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, EPU compounded at +48.21% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +33.81% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.59% annualized vs +9.31%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EPU has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 24.6% compared with 14.8% 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 -64.6% for EPU and -35.0% 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 0.52. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EPU charges 0.59% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $3 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EPU currently yields 1.86% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
2.6% of EPU's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
EPU and VTI share little of their money.
1 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in EPU and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 34 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,149 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for EPU (97.4% of the fund), and 3 for EPU that do not appear in VTI (46.3%).
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 EPU | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAURLaureate Education Inc | 2.56% | 0.01% | 2.55% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EPU 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, EPU or VTI?
EPU has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EPU or VTI?
Over the past year EPU returned +62.10% vs +16.08% for VTI, so EPU leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), EPU annualized +9.31% vs +13.59% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EPU or VTI?
EPU has been the more volatile fund at 24.6% annualized versus 14.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: EPU -64.6% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both EPU and VTI?
EPU and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.52, 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 EPU and VTI?
2.6% of EPU's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.0% of VTI's is in holdings EPU also owns. They hold 1 positions in common, counted across the 26 positions we hold weights for in EPU and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, EPU or VTI?
EPU yields 1.86% while VTI yields 1.03%, so EPU currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EPU?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EPU led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 72.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.