ETG vs VTI

ETG vs VTI

Which is better, ETG or VTI?

Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. ETG led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: split

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

MetricETGVTI
Expense Ratio1.27%0.03%Best
AUM$1.3B$666.9B
Dividend Yield5.85%1.03%
Holdings1933,543
YTD Return+4.77%+11.53%Best
1Y Return+16.77%Best+15.74%
3Y Return (annualized)+21.43%Best+20.67%
5Y Return (annualized)+8.58%+11.59%Best
Volatility (annualized)21.7%15.1%Best
Max Drawdown-78.3%-56.6%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$15,092$17,303Best
Fund FamilyEaton VanceVanguard (US)
CategoryAllocation/BalancedEquity
StyleAllocation/BalancedLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJan 30, 2004May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 3, 2004 to Sep 15, 2026 (22.6 years).

ETG 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 22.6 years both funds cover.

ETG vs VTI Performance

Eaton Vance Tax-Advantaged Global Dividend Income Fund (ETG) is an ETF from Eaton Vance and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ETG returned +16.77% while VTI returned +15.74%. Year to date, ETG is up 4.77% versus a gain of 11.53% for VTI.

Over three years, ETG compounded at +21.43% per year against +20.67% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.58% and +11.59% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.23% annualized vs +2.51%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

ETG has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.7% compared with 15.1% 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 -78.3% for ETG and -56.6% 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 0.88. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

ETG charges 1.27% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $127 vs $3 annually, a gap of $124 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ETG currently yields 5.85% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

VTI already in ETG36.5%

At least 36.5% of VTI's money is in holdings ETG also owns.

Stated as a floor: for ETG, our book for it covers 94.8% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

The two portfolios partly overlap.

The two holdings books were reported 154 days apart, ETG as of Feb 27, 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.

61 positions in common, counted across the 154 positions we hold weights for in ETG and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 193 and 3,543.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in ETGWeight in VTIDifference
NVDANvidia Corp2.82%6.40%3.58%
AAPLApple, Inc2.03%6.29%4.26%
MSFTMicrosoft Corp2.48%4.79%2.31%
GOOGAlphabet Inc4.75%2.31%2.44%
AMZNAmazon.Com Inc2.15%3.65%1.50%
MUMicron Technology, Inc.3.81%1.29%2.52%
AVGOBroadcom Inc1.30%2.56%1.26%
LLYEli Lilly & Co.1.23%1.35%0.12%
XOMExxon Mobil Corp.1.21%0.89%0.32%
VVisa Inc Class A0.82%0.83%0.01%

36.5% of VTI is already inside ETG.

You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.

ETGVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, ETG or VTI?

ETG has an expense ratio of 1.27% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $124 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, ETG or VTI?

Over the past year ETG returned +16.77% vs +15.74% for VTI, so ETG leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), ETG annualized +2.51% vs +9.23% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, ETG or VTI?

ETG has been the more volatile fund at 21.7% annualized versus 15.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: ETG -78.3% vs VTI -56.6%.

Should I hold both ETG and VTI?

ETG and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.88, 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 ETG and VTI?

At least 36.5% of VTI's money is in holdings ETG also owns. Our book for ETG is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 61 positions in common, counted across the 154 positions we hold weights for in ETG and 3,463 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, ETG or VTI?

ETG yields 5.85% while VTI yields 1.03%, so ETG currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than ETG?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. ETG led over 1Y and 3Y, VTI over 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.