EWS vs VTI
iShares MSCI Singapore ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EWS or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EWS led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 81.0%.
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 | EWS | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.3B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 3.47% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 26 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +23.41%Best | +12.08% |
| 1Y Return | +21.01%Best | +16.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +27.16%Best | +20.83% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +13.00%Best | +11.89% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.6% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -66.9% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $18,424Best | $17,537 |
| Top 10 Weight | 81.0% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | 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 14, 2026 (25.3 years).
EWS 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.
EWS vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI Singapore ETF (EWS) 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 EWS returned +21.01% while VTI returned +16.31%. Year to date, EWS is up 23.41% versus a gain of 12.08% for VTI.
Over three years, EWS compounded at +27.16% per year against +20.83% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +13.00% and +11.89% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.03% annualized vs +5.69%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWS has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.6% 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 -66.9% for EWS 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 0.71. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWS 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, EWS currently yields 3.47% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 16 holdings in EWS and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 97.4% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 16 positions we hold weights for in EWS and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 26 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 EWS (97.5% of the fund), and 1 for EWS that do not appear in VTI (0.1%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EWS 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, EWS or VTI?
EWS 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, EWS or VTI?
Over the past year EWS returned +21.01% vs +16.31% for VTI, so EWS leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), EWS annualized +5.69% vs +8.03% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWS or VTI?
EWS has been the more volatile fund at 20.6% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: EWS -66.9% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both EWS and VTI?
EWS and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.71, 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, EWS or VTI?
EWS yields 3.47% while VTI yields 1.03%, so EWS currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EWS?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EWS led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 81.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.