GDMA vs VTI
Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GDMA or VTI?
Allocation/Balanced against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 68.1%.
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 | GDMA | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.75% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $196M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.54% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 21 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +6.05% | +11.06%Best |
| 1Y Return | +8.62% | +15.41%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +13.78% | +20.48%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +7.30% | +11.52%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.0%Best | 17.3% |
| Max Drawdown | -16.7%Best | -35.0% |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $14,223 | $17,249Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 68.1% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Gadsden Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Allocation/Balanced | Equity |
| Style | Allocation/Balanced | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 14, 2018 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 15, 2018 to Sep 16, 2026 (7.8 years).
GDMA 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 7.8 years both funds cover.
GDMA vs VTI Performance
Gadsden Dynamic Multi-Asset ETF (GDMA) is an ETF from Gadsden Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GDMA returned +8.62% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, GDMA is up 6.05% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Over three years, GDMA compounded at +13.78% per year against +20.48% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +7.30% and +11.52% respectively. Across the full 8-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +14.39% annualized vs +8.54%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 10.0% for GDMA. 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 -16.7% for GDMA and -35.0% 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 0.50. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDMA charges 0.75% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $75 vs $3 annually, a gap of $72 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDMA currently yields 2.54% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
11.3% of GDMA's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.2% of VTI's money is in holdings GDMA also owns.
GDMA and VTI share little of their money.
12 positions in common, counted across the 39 positions we hold weights for in GDMA and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 21 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,138 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for GDMA (94.2% of the fund), and 22 for GDMA that do not appear in VTI (85.6%).
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 GDMA | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| SNOWSnowflake Inc | 2.44% | 0.13% | 2.31% |
| MUMicron Technology, Inc. | 1.08% | 1.29% | 0.21% |
| AMATApplied Materials, Inc. | 0.96% | 0.56% | 0.40% |
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 1.08% | 0.37% | 0.71% |
| KLACKla Corp | 0.98% | 0.33% | 0.65% |
| DELLDell Technologies Inc | 1.03% | 0.16% | 0.87% |
| HLHecla Mining Co | 1.03% | 0.01% | 1.02% |
| SNDKSandisk Corp/De | 0.66% | 0.25% | 0.41% |
| AEHRAehr Test Systems | 0.60% | 0.00% | 0.60% |
| TERTeradyne Inc - Common | 0.48% | 0.08% | 0.40% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GDMA 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, GDMA or VTI?
GDMA has an expense ratio of 0.75% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $72 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDMA or VTI?
Over the past year GDMA returned +8.62% vs +15.41% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (8 years), GDMA annualized +8.54% vs +14.39% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDMA or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 10.0% for GDMA. Worst drawdown: GDMA -16.7% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both GDMA and VTI?
GDMA and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.50, 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 GDMA and VTI?
11.3% of GDMA's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.2% of VTI's is in holdings GDMA also owns. They hold 12 positions in common, counted across the 39 positions we hold weights for in GDMA and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, GDMA or VTI?
GDMA yields 2.54% while VTI yields 1.03%, so GDMA currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GDMA?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI 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 68.1%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.