GDL vs VTI
The GDL Fund vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GDL or VTI?
Mid 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 | GDL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.70% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $119M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 4.46% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 129 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +3.33% | +12.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | +3.66% | +16.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +8.30% | +20.83%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.56% | +11.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 8.5%Best | 15.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -72.5% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,498 | $17,537Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jan 25, 2007 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jan 26, 2007 to Sep 14, 2026 (19.6 years).
GDL 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.
GDL vs VTI Performance
The GDL Fund (GDL) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GDL returned +3.66% while VTI returned +16.31%. Year to date, GDL is up 3.33% versus a gain of 12.08% for VTI.
Over three years, GDL compounded at +8.30% per year against +20.83% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.56% and +11.89% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.31% annualized vs -2.75%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.9% compared with 8.5% for GDL. 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 -72.5% for GDL 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 0.65. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDL charges 2.70% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $270 vs $3 annually, a gap of $267 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDL currently yields 4.46% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
At least 1.0% of VTI's money is in holdings GDL also owns.
Stated as a floor: for GDL, our book for it covers 82.4% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.
VTI and GDL share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 122 days apart, GDL as of Mar 31, 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.
34 positions in common, counted across the 115 positions we hold weights for in GDL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 129 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GDL | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| EAElectronic Arts, Inc. | 5.10% | 0.07% | 5.03% |
| WBDWarner Bros. Discovery, Inc | 3.07% | 0.09% | 2.98% |
| DBRGDigitalbridge Group Inc. | 2.02% | 0.00% | 2.02% |
| AESAes Corporation | 1.92% | 0.01% | 1.91% |
| BHFBrighthouse Financial Inc | 1.56% | 0.00% | 1.56% |
| TXNMTxnm Energy Inc | 1.52% | 0.01% | 1.51% |
| IMXIInternational Money Express, Inc. | 1.25% | 0.00% | 1.25% |
| BABoeing Co | 0.59% | 0.24% | 0.35% |
| NSCNorfolk Southern Corp | 0.55% | 0.10% | 0.45% |
| STAAStaar Surgical Co | 0.59% | 0.00% | 0.59% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GDL 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, GDL or VTI?
GDL has an expense ratio of 2.70% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $267 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDL or VTI?
Over the past year GDL returned +3.66% vs +16.31% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), GDL annualized -2.75% vs +9.31% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDL or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.9% annualized versus 8.5% for GDL. Worst drawdown: GDL -72.5% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both GDL and VTI?
GDL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.65, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between GDL and VTI?
At least 1.0% of VTI's money is in holdings GDL also owns. Our book for GDL is partial, so the real figure is this or higher. They hold 34 positions in common, counted across the 115 positions we hold weights for in GDL and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, GDL or VTI?
GDL yields 4.46% while VTI yields 1.03%, so GDL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GDL?
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.