GDX vs VTI
VanEck Gold Miners ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GDX or VTI?
Mid Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. GDX led over 3Y and 5Y, VTI over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.2%.
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 | GDX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.51% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $28.4B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.62% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 120 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +2.39% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +14.68% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +51.69%Best | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +26.00%Best | +12.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 37.7% | 15.7%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -80.3% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $31,758Best | $18,286 |
| Top 10 Weight | 58.2% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | VanEck | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Mid Cap Growth | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 16, 2006 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 22, 2006 to Oct 2, 2026 (20.4 years).
GDX 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 20.4 years both funds cover.
GDX vs VTI Performance
VanEck Gold Miners ETF (GDX) is an ETF from VanEck and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GDX returned +14.68% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, GDX is up 2.39% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Over three years, GDX compounded at +51.69% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +26.00% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 20-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.64% annualized vs +5.29%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GDX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 37.7% compared with 15.7% 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 -80.3% for GDX 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 0.24. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GDX charges 0.51% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $51 vs $3 annually, a gap of $48 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GDX currently yields 0.62% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
16.6% of GDX's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings GDX also owns.
GDX and VTI share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, GDX 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.
4 positions in common, counted across the 59 positions we hold weights for in GDX and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 120 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,146 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for GDX (97.3% of the fund), and 1 for GDX that do not appear in VTI (0.8%).
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 GDX 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, GDX or VTI?
GDX has an expense ratio of 0.51% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $48 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GDX or VTI?
Over the past year GDX returned +14.68% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (20 years), GDX annualized +5.29% vs +9.64% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GDX or VTI?
GDX has been the more volatile fund at 37.7% annualized versus 15.7% for VTI. Worst drawdown: GDX -80.3% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both GDX and VTI?
GDX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.24, 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 GDX and VTI?
16.6% of GDX's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.2% of VTI's is in holdings GDX also owns. They hold 4 positions in common, counted across the 59 positions we hold weights for in GDX and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, GDX or VTI?
GDX yields 0.62% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GDX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. GDX led over 3Y and 5Y, VTI over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 58.2%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.