EWT vs VTI
iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EWT or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EWT 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 48.0%.
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 | EWT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $11.9B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.60% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 87 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +67.36%Best | +11.06% |
| 1Y Return | +79.06%Best | +15.41% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +40.78%Best | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +18.98%Best | +11.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 23.8% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -62.9% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $23,843Best | $17,249 |
| Top 10 Weight | 48.0% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 20, 2000 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 16, 2026 (25.3 years).
EWT 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.
EWT vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI Taiwan ETF (EWT) 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 EWT returned +79.06% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, EWT is up 67.36% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, EWT compounded at +40.78% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +18.98% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, EWT has the edge at +10.17% annualized vs +7.99%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 23.8% 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 -62.9% for EWT 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 0.70. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWT charges 0.59% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $59 vs $3 annually, a gap of $56 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EWT currently yields 2.60% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 78 holdings in EWT and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 99.7% 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 78 positions we hold weights for in EWT and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 87 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 EWT (97.5% of the fund), and 1 for EWT 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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EWT 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, EWT or VTI?
EWT has an expense ratio of 0.59% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $56 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EWT or VTI?
Over the past year EWT returned +79.06% vs +15.41% for VTI, so EWT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), EWT annualized +10.17% vs +7.99% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWT or VTI?
EWT has been the more volatile fund at 23.8% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: EWT -62.9% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both EWT and VTI?
EWT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.70, 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, EWT or VTI?
EWT yields 2.60% while VTI yields 1.03%, so EWT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EWT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EWT 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 48.0%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.