EWX vs VTI
State Street SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EWX or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 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 | EWX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $696M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.50% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 3,452 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +9.95% | +11.65%Best |
| 1Y Return | +11.01% | +17.34%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +12.08% | +20.35%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +6.19% | +11.72%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 21.4% | 16.2%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -63.9% | -52.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $13,503 | $17,404Best |
| Fund Family | SPDR State Street Global Advisors | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 12, 2008 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 16, 2008 to Sep 10, 2026 (18.3 years).
EWX 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 18.3 years both funds cover.
EWX vs VTI Performance
State Street SPDR S&P Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF (EWX) is an ETF from SPDR State Street Global Advisors and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year EWX returned +11.01% while VTI returned +17.34%. Year to date, EWX is up 9.95% versus a gain of 11.65% for VTI.
Over three years, EWX compounded at +12.08% per year against +20.35% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +6.19% and +11.72% respectively. Across the full 18-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.94% annualized vs +2.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 21.4% compared with 16.2% 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 -63.9% for EWX and -52.6% 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 0.77. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWX charges 0.65% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $3 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, EWX currently yields 2.50% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.4% of EWX's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
Stated as a floor: for VTI, our book for it covers 90.6% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, EWX as of Mar 31, 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.
12 positions in common, counted across the 3,275 positions we hold weights for in EWX and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 3,452 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in EWX | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNHUnitedhealth Group Inc. | 0.02% | 0.52% | 0.50% |
| PGProcter & Gamble Company | 0.03% | 0.47% | 0.44% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 0.05% | 0.22% | 0.17% |
| RCLRoyal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. | 0.01% | 0.11% | 0.10% |
| ZZillow Group Inc - C Common Stock | 0.06% | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| SPPJ:ZASpar Group Ltd/The | 0.06% | 0.00% | 0.06% |
| HCIHci Group, Inc. | 0.04% | 0.00% | 0.04% |
| NBNNortheast Bancorp | 0.03% | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| PRMPERIMETER SOLUT.. | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| PIIPolaris Inc | 0.02% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of EWX 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, EWX or VTI?
EWX has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, EWX or VTI?
Over the past year EWX returned +11.01% vs +17.34% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (18 years), EWX annualized +2.35% vs +9.94% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWX or VTI?
EWX has been the more volatile fund at 21.4% annualized versus 16.2% for VTI. Worst drawdown: EWX -63.9% vs VTI -52.6%.
Should I hold both EWX and VTI?
EWX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.77, 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, EWX or VTI?
EWX yields 2.50% while VTI yields 1.03%, so EWX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EWX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.