ETO vs VTI
Eaton Vance Tax-Advantage Global Dividend Opportunity Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ETO or VTI?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ETO led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | ETO | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 1.15% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $388M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.07% | 1.07% |
| Holdings | 195 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +11.85% | +13.59%Best |
| 1Y Return | +23.92%Best | +20.00% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +20.20% | +20.95%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.04% | +11.81%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.1% | 15.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -75.2% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,052 | $17,474Best |
| Fund Family | Eaton Vance | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Apr 30, 2004 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Apr 28, 2004 to Sep 4, 2026 (22.4 years).
ETO 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 22.4 years both funds cover.
ETO vs VTI Performance
Eaton Vance Tax-Advantage Global Dividend Opportunity Fund (ETO) is an ETF from Eaton Vance and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ETO returned +23.92% while VTI returned +20.00%. Year to date, ETO is up 11.85% versus a gain of 13.59% for VTI.
Over three years, ETO compounded at +20.20% per year against +20.95% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +7.04% and +11.81% respectively. Across the full 22-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.46% annualized vs +3.96%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
ETO has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.1% compared with 15.2% 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 -75.2% for ETO 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 0.87. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ETO charges 1.15% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $115 vs $3 annually, a gap of $112 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ETO currently yields 6.07% against 1.07% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 156 holdings in ETO and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 92.9% and 92.3% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 58 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 123 days apart, ETO as of Feb 27, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
58 positions in common, counted across the 156 positions we hold weights for in ETO and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 195 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in ETO | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDANvidia Corp. | 3.93% | 6.32% | 2.39% |
| AAPLApple, Inc | 1.73% | 5.84% | 4.11% |
| GOOGAlphabet Inc. C | 4.97% | 2.27% | 2.70% |
| MSFTMicrosoft Corp 4.100 Feb 06 37 | 2.40% | 3.81% | 1.41% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 3.54% | 1.79% | 1.75% |
| AMZNAmazon.Com Inc | 2.04% | 3.17% | 1.13% |
| AVGOBroadcom Inc | 1.07% | 2.46% | 1.39% |
| LLYEli Lilly & Co. | 1.03% | 1.40% | 0.37% |
| XOMExxon Mobil Corp. | 0.96% | 0.78% | 0.18% |
| VVisa Inc Class A | 0.79% | 0.77% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ETO 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, ETO or VTI?
ETO has an expense ratio of 1.15% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $112 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ETO or VTI?
Over the past year ETO returned +23.92% vs +20.00% for VTI, so ETO leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (22 years), ETO annualized +3.96% vs +9.46% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ETO or VTI?
ETO has been the more volatile fund at 23.1% annualized versus 15.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: ETO -75.2% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both ETO and VTI?
ETO and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.87, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which pays a higher dividend, ETO or VTI?
ETO yields 6.07% while VTI yields 1.07%, so ETO currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ETO?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ETO led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.