GSIE vs VTI
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta International Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GSIE or VTI?
Each has led over a different period.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. GSIE led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GSIE is less concentrated, with 10.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%.
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 | GSIE | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.25% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $6.1B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.45% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 673 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +10.95% | +12.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.65%Best | +16.31% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +17.89% | +20.83%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +8.58% | +11.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.5%Best | 15.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -37.2% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $15,092 | $17,537Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 10.5%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Goldman Sachs Asset Management | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Nov 6, 2015 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Nov 10, 2015 to Sep 14, 2026 (10.8 years).
GSIE 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 10.8 years both funds cover.
GSIE vs VTI Performance
Goldman Sachs ActiveBeta International Equity ETF (GSIE) is an ETF from Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GSIE returned +16.65% while VTI returned +16.31%. Year to date, GSIE is up 10.95% versus a gain of 12.08% for VTI.
Over three years, GSIE compounded at +17.89% per year against +20.83% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +8.58% and +11.89% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +13.05% annualized vs +7.67%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 15.6% compared with 14.5% for GSIE. 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 -37.2% for GSIE 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 0.84. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GSIE charges 0.25% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $25 vs $3 annually, a gap of $22 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GSIE currently yields 2.45% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.1% of VTI's money is in holdings GSIE also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
3 positions in common, counted across the 671 positions we hold weights for in GSIE and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 673 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,149 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for GSIE (97.4% of the fund), and 12 for GSIE that do not appear in VTI (1.8%).
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 GSIE 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, GSIE or VTI?
GSIE has an expense ratio of 0.25% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $22 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GSIE or VTI?
Over the past year GSIE returned +16.65% vs +16.31% for VTI, so GSIE leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), GSIE annualized +7.67% vs +13.05% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GSIE or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 14.5% for GSIE. Worst drawdown: GSIE -37.2% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both GSIE and VTI?
GSIE and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.84, 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, GSIE or VTI?
GSIE yields 2.45% while VTI yields 1.03%, so GSIE currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GSIE?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. GSIE led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. GSIE is less concentrated, with 10.5% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 33.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.