FLXR vs VTI
TCW Flexible Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, FLXR or VTI?
Intermediate Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y 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 | FLXR | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.40% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | - | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 6.01% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,621 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +0.98% | +12.28%Best |
| 1Y Return | +2.34% | +16.78%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.89% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.94% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 3.0%Best | 12.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -1.9%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 2.2 years | $11,436 | $14,336Best |
| Fund Family | TCW ETFs | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | Intermediate Term Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jun 24, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 24, 2024 to Sep 17, 2026 (2.2 years).
FLXR 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 2.2 years both funds cover.
FLXR vs VTI Performance
TCW Flexible Income ETF (FLXR) is an ETF from TCW ETFs and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year FLXR returned +2.34% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, FLXR is up 0.98% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.3% compared with 3.0% for FLXR. 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 -1.9% for FLXR and -19.3% 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 0.40. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
FLXR charges 0.40% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $40 vs $3 annually, a gap of $37 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, FLXR currently yields 6.01% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings FLXR also owns.
Stated as a floor: for FLXR, our book for it covers 46.5% 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 63 days apart, FLXR as of May 29, 2026 and VTI as of Jul 31, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
2 positions in common, counted across the 493 positions we hold weights for in FLXR and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,621 and 3,543.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of FLXR 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, FLXR or VTI?
FLXR has an expense ratio of 0.40% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $37 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, FLXR or VTI?
Over the past year FLXR returned +2.34% vs +16.78% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), FLXR annualized +6.29% vs +17.79% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, FLXR or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.3% annualized versus 3.0% for FLXR. Worst drawdown: FLXR -1.9% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both FLXR and VTI?
FLXR and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.40, 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, FLXR or VTI?
FLXR yields 6.01% while VTI yields 1.03%, so FLXR currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than FLXR?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.