GOVI vs VTI

GOVI vs VTI

Which is better, GOVI or VTI?

Long Term Government Bond 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 34.4%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTILess Concentrated: VTI

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

MetricGOVIVTI
Expense Ratio0.15%0.03%Best
AUM$1.2B$690.1B
Dividend Yield3.96%1.03%
Holdings663,524
YTD Return-5.50%+13.35%Best
1Y Return-5.91%+15.92%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+2.50%+23.41%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-4.22%+12.83%Best
Volatility (annualized)8.7%Best16.1%
Max Drawdown-33.1%Best-56.5%
$10,000 over 5 years$8,061$18,286Best
Top 10 Weight34.4%33.3%Best
Fund FamilyInvesco (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleLong Term Government BondLarge Cap Blend
InceptionOct 11, 2007May 24, 2001

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Oct 11, 2007 to Oct 2, 2026 (19 years).

GOVI 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.

GOVI vs VTI Performance

Invesco Equal Weight 0-30 Year Treasury ETF (GOVI) is an ETF from Invesco (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GOVI returned -5.91% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, GOVI is down 5.50% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.

Over three years, GOVI compounded at +2.50% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -4.22% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 19-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.19% annualized vs +0.84%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 16.1% compared with 8.7% for GOVI. 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 -33.1% for GOVI and -56.5% 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 -0.07. They move largely independently of each other.

Fees and Cost Over Time

GOVI charges 0.15% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $15 vs $3 annually, a gap of $12 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GOVI currently yields 3.96% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 30 holdings in GOVI and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 96.8% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, GOVI 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.

0 positions in common, counted across the 30 positions we hold weights for in GOVI and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 66 and 3,524.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for GOVI (97.5% of the fund), and 30 for GOVI that do not appear in VTI (96.8%).

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 GOVI and VTI you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

GOVIVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, GOVI or VTI?

GOVI has an expense ratio of 0.15% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $12 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, GOVI or VTI?

Over the past year GOVI returned -5.91% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (19 years), GOVI annualized +0.84% vs +9.19% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, GOVI or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 16.1% annualized versus 8.7% for GOVI. Worst drawdown: GOVI -33.1% vs VTI -56.5%.

Should I hold both GOVI and VTI?

GOVI and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of -0.07, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, GOVI or VTI?

GOVI yields 3.96% while VTI yields 1.03%, so GOVI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than GOVI?

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 34.4%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.