ESN vs VTI
Essential 40 Stock ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ESN or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ESN led over 1Y and the full window. ESN is less concentrated, with 32.6% 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 | ESN | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $339M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.76% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 44 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +19.47%Best | +13.14% |
| 1Y Return | +22.04%Best | +16.63% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.30% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.01% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.7%Best | 13.1% |
| Max Drawdown | -13.6%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 1.9 years | $13,605Best | $13,373 |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.6%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | KKM Financial | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 11, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.9 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 21, 2024 to Sep 23, 2026 (1.9 years).
ESN 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 1.9 years both funds cover.
ESN vs VTI Performance
Essential 40 Stock ETF (ESN) is an ETF from KKM Financial and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ESN returned +22.04% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, ESN is up 19.47% versus a gain of 13.14% 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 13.1% compared with 10.7% for ESN. 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 -13.6% for ESN 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 0.85. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESN charges 0.70% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $70 vs $3 annually, a gap of $67 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ESN currently yields 0.76% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
92.2% of ESN's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 31.0% of VTI's money is in holdings ESN also owns.
Most of ESN is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
38 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in ESN and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 44 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,112 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for ESN (66.5% of the fund), and 1 for ESN that do not appear in VTI (2.7%).
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 ESN | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAPLApple, Inc | 2.74% | 6.29% | 3.55% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp | 2.30% | 4.79% | 2.49% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.28% | 3.65% | 1.37% |
| INTCIntel Corporation | 4.88% | 0.50% | 4.38% |
| GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A | 2.22% | 2.90% | 0.68% |
| MPCMarathon Petroleum Corp | 4.63% | 0.13% | 4.50% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 3.78% | 0.38% | 3.40% |
| METAMeta Platforms Inc | 2.04% | 1.70% | 0.34% |
| JPMJpmorgan Chase | 2.41% | 1.31% | 1.10% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 2.82% | 0.89% | 1.93% |
92.2% of ESN 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, ESN or VTI?
ESN has an expense ratio of 0.70% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $67 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ESN or VTI?
Over the past year ESN returned +22.04% vs +16.63% for VTI, so ESN leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ESN annualized +17.59% vs +16.53% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ESN or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 13.1% annualized versus 10.7% for ESN. Worst drawdown: ESN -13.6% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both ESN and VTI?
ESN and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.85, 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 ESN and VTI?
92.2% of ESN's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 31.0% of VTI's is in holdings ESN also owns. They hold 38 positions in common, counted across the 41 positions we hold weights for in ESN and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESN or VTI?
ESN yields 0.76% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ESN?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ESN led over 1Y and the full window. ESN is less concentrated, with 32.6% 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.