EWY vs VTI
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, EWY or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EWY 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 60.8%.
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 | EWY | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.59% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $27.2B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.12% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 84 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +77.37%Best | +12.30% |
| 1Y Return | +129.58%Best | +16.08% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +46.04%Best | +21.01% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +19.98%Best | +12.36% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 29.9% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -74.0% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $24,862Best | $17,908 |
| Top 10 Weight | 60.8% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 9, 2000 | 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).
EWY 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.
EWY vs VTI Performance
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF (EWY) 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 EWY returned +129.58% while VTI returned +16.08%. Year to date, EWY is up 77.37% versus a gain of 12.30% for VTI.
Over three years, EWY compounded at +46.04% per year against +21.01% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +19.98% and +12.36% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, EWY has the edge at +12.08% annualized vs +8.03%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
EWY has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 29.9% 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 -74.0% for EWY 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 0.69. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
EWY 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, EWY currently yields 1.12% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 77 holdings in EWY and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 98.7% 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 77 positions we hold weights for in EWY and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 84 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 EWY (97.5% of the fund), and 3 for EWY that do not appear in VTI (22.3%).
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 EWY 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, EWY or VTI?
EWY 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, EWY or VTI?
Over the past year EWY returned +129.58% vs +16.08% for VTI, so EWY leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), EWY annualized +12.08% vs +8.03% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, EWY or VTI?
EWY has been the more volatile fund at 29.9% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: EWY -74.0% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both EWY and VTI?
EWY and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.69, 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, EWY or VTI?
EWY yields 1.12% while VTI yields 1.03%, so EWY currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than EWY?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. EWY 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 60.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.