ESSC vs VTI
Eventide Small Cap ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ESSC or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ESSC led over 1Y and the full window. ESSC is less concentrated, with 7.5% 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 | ESSC | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.49% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $35M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.41% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,117 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +11.69% | +12.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | +15.42%Best | +15.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.31% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 15.3% | 12.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -9.8% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1 years | $11,570Best | $11,560 |
| Top 10 Weight | 7.5%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Eventide | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Sep 30, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Sep 30, 2025 to Oct 1, 2026 (1 years).
ESSC 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 years both funds cover.
ESSC vs VTI Performance
Eventide Small Cap ETF (ESSC) is an ETF from Eventide and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ESSC returned +15.42% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, ESSC is up 11.69% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ESSC has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.3% compared with 12.6% 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 -9.8% for ESSC 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 0.73. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ESSC charges 0.49% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $49 vs $3 annually, a gap of $46 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ESSC currently yields 0.41% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
98.0% of ESSC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.4% of VTI's money is in holdings ESSC also owns.
Most of ESSC is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, ESSC 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.
362 positions in common, counted across the 372 positions we hold weights for in ESSC and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,117 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 998 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for ESSC (95.2% of the fund), and 5 for ESSC that do not appear in VTI (0.9%).
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 ESSC | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESIElement Solutions Inc | 0.87% | 0.01% | 0.86% |
| AROCArchrock, Inc. | 0.79% | 0.01% | 0.78% |
| HIWHighwoods Properties Inc | 0.79% | 0.01% | 0.78% |
| FNBFnb Corp/pa Common Stock Usd.01 | 0.78% | 0.01% | 0.77% |
| ASBAssociated Banc-Corp | 0.77% | 0.01% | 0.76% |
| NWBINorthwest Bancshares Inc Common Stock Usd 0.01 | 0.76% | 0.00% | 0.76% |
| SWXSouthwest Gas Holdings Inc Common Stock Usd 1 | 0.71% | 0.01% | 0.70% |
| ACAArcosa Inc | 0.70% | 0.01% | 0.69% |
| GATXGATX Corporation | 0.69% | 0.01% | 0.68% |
| RRCRange Resources Corp | 0.68% | 0.01% | 0.67% |
98.0% of ESSC 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, ESSC or VTI?
ESSC has an expense ratio of 0.49% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $46 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ESSC or VTI?
Over the past year ESSC returned +15.42% vs +15.23% for VTI, so ESSC leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), ESSC annualized +15.70% vs +15.60% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ESSC or VTI?
ESSC has been the more volatile fund at 15.3% annualized versus 12.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: ESSC -9.8% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both ESSC and VTI?
ESSC and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.73, 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 ESSC and VTI?
98.0% of ESSC's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 2.4% of VTI's is in holdings ESSC also owns. They hold 362 positions in common, counted across the 372 positions we hold weights for in ESSC and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, ESSC or VTI?
ESSC yields 0.41% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ESSC?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ESSC led over 1Y and the full window. ESSC is less concentrated, with 7.5% 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.