EWA vs VTI
iShares MSCI Australia ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EWA or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.3%.
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 | EWA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.83% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 54 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +10.14% | +12.30%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.27% | +16.08%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.85% | +21.01%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.35% | +12.36%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.6% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -69.7% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,256 | $17,908Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 65.3% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 12, 1996 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 18, 2026 (25.3 years).
EWA 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 25.3 years both funds cover.
EWA vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI Australia ETF (EWA) 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 EWA returned +10.27% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, EWA is up 10.14% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, EWA compounded at +12.85% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +7.35% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.03% annualized vs +5.40%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWA has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.6% compared with 15.3% 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 -69.7% for EWA 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 0.78. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWA charges 0.50% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EWA currently yields 2.83% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.7% of EWA's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
1 positions in common, counted across the 43 positions we hold weights for in EWA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 54 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for EWA (97.5% of the fund), and 1 for EWA that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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 EWA | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SIG:LNSignet Jewelers Limited Common Shares | 0.68% | 0.01% | 0.67% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EWA 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, EWA or VTI?
EWA has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EWA or VTI?
Over the past year EWA returned +10.27% vs +16.08% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), EWA annualized +5.40% vs +8.03% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWA or VTI?
EWA has been the more volatile fund at 21.6% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: EWA -69.7% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both EWA and VTI?
EWA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.78, 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, EWA or VTI?
EWA yields 2.83% while VTI yields 1.03%, so EWA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EWA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 65.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.