GOEX vs VTI
Global X Gold Explorers ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GOEX or VTI?
Small Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. GOEX led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.8%.
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 | GOEX | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.65% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $123M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.90% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 54 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +2.36% | +12.51%Best |
| 1Y Return | +21.10%Best | +15.23% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +59.39%Best | +22.50% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +26.95%Best | +12.31% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 44.8% | 14.6%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -90.6% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $32,973Best | $17,869 |
| Top 10 Weight | 39.8% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | Global X by mirae Asset | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Small Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 3, 2010 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 4, 2010 to Oct 1, 2026 (15.9 years).
GOEX 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 15.9 years both funds cover.
GOEX vs VTI Performance
Global X Gold Explorers ETF (GOEX) is an ETF from Global X by mirae Asset and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GOEX returned +21.10% while VTI returned +15.23%. Year to date, GOEX is up 2.36% versus a gain of 12.51% for VTI.
Over three years, GOEX compounded at +59.39% per year against +22.50% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +26.95% and +12.31% respectively. Across the full 16-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.47% annualized vs -2.51%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GOEX has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 44.8% compared with 14.6% 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 -90.6% for GOEX 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 0.29. They move largely independently of each other.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GOEX charges 0.65% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $65 vs $3 annually, a gap of $62 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GOEX currently yields 1.90% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
9.5% of GOEX's money is in holdings VTI also owns.
GOEX and VTI share little of their money.
The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, GOEX 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.
2 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in GOEX and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 54 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,148 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for GOEX (97.4% of the fund), and 2 for GOEX that do not appear in VTI (4.0%).
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.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GOEX 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, GOEX or VTI?
GOEX has an expense ratio of 0.65% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $62 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GOEX or VTI?
Over the past year GOEX returned +21.10% vs +15.23% for VTI, so GOEX leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (16 years), GOEX annualized -2.51% vs +12.47% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GOEX or VTI?
GOEX has been the more volatile fund at 44.8% annualized versus 14.6% for VTI. Worst drawdown: GOEX -90.6% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both GOEX and VTI?
GOEX and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.29, 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 GOEX and VTI?
9.5% of GOEX's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.0% of VTI's is in holdings GOEX also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 51 positions we hold weights for in GOEX and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, GOEX or VTI?
GOEX yields 1.90% while VTI yields 1.03%, so GOEX currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GOEX?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. GOEX led over 1Y, 3Y and 5Y, VTI over the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 39.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.