GARA vs VTI
Guinness Atkinson Real Assets Income ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GARA or VTI?
VTI costs less.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. GARA is less concentrated, with 32.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | GARA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.45% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $383,737.66 | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.57% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 70 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +1.80% | +12.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | - | +15.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +22.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.31% |
| Top 10 Weight | 32.8%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Guinness Atkinson Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 22, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Volatility (annualized), Max Drawdown, $10,000 over the window.
GARA 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 is available from the range buttons; it is not the opening view here because over the whole period one of these two funds moves so much further than the other that its line would sit flat on the axis.
GARA vs VTI Performance
Guinness Atkinson Real Assets Income ETF (GARA) is an ETF from Guinness Atkinson Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Year to date, GARA is up 1.80% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GARA charges 0.45% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $45 vs $3 annually, a gap of $42 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GARA currently yields 1.57% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
41.3% of GARA's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.5% of VTI's money is in holdings GARA also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, GARA as of Sep 15, 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.
14 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in GARA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 70 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,136 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for GARA (96.0% of the fund), and 1 for GARA that do not appear in VTI (3.0%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GARA | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| WELLWelltower, Inc. | 3.54% | 0.23% | 3.31% |
| EQIXEquinix Inc. Real Estate Investment Trust | 3.38% | 0.14% | 3.24% |
| UNPUnion Pacific Corp | 3.28% | 0.24% | 3.04% |
| VTRVentas Inc . | 3.43% | 0.06% | 3.37% |
| PLDPrologis Inc | 3.00% | 0.19% | 2.81% |
| DLRDigital Realty Trust Inc. | 2.98% | 0.09% | 2.89% |
| AMTAmerican Tower Corporation | 2.94% | 0.11% | 2.83% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp | 2.78% | 0.14% | 2.64% |
| WTRGEssential Utilities Inc - Common | 2.84% | 0.02% | 2.82% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 2.72% | 0.10% | 2.62% |
41.3% of GARA is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, GARA or VTI?
GARA has an expense ratio of 0.45% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $42 a year on a $10,000 investment.
What is the holdings overlap between GARA and VTI?
41.3% of GARA's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 1.5% of VTI's is in holdings GARA also owns. They hold 14 positions in common, counted across the 35 positions we hold weights for in GARA and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, GARA or VTI?
GARA yields 1.57% while VTI yields 1.03%, so GARA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GARA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. GARA is less concentrated, with 32.8% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.