GUT vs VTI
Gabelli Utility Trust (The) vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, GUT or VTI?
All Cap Blend against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. GUT led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window.
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 | GUT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 2.06% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $317M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 19.70% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 204 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +15.04%Best | +11.65% |
| 1Y Return | +20.70%Best | +17.34% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +9.92% | +20.35%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +4.94% | +11.72%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.1% | 15.3%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -57.6% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $12,726 | $17,404Best |
| Fund Family | Gabelli Funds | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | All Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 9, 1999 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 31, 2001 to Sep 10, 2026 (25.3 years).
GUT 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.
GUT vs VTI Performance
Gabelli Utility Trust (The) (GUT) is an ETF from Gabelli Funds and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year GUT returned +20.70% while VTI returned +17.34%. Year to date, GUT is up 15.04% versus a gain of 11.65% for VTI.
Over three years, GUT compounded at +9.92% per year against +20.35% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.94% and +11.72% respectively. Across the full 25-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +8.01% annualized vs +0.73%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
GUT has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.1% compared with 15.3% 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 -57.6% for GUT 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 0.45. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
GUT charges 2.06% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $206 vs $3 annually, a gap of $203 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, GUT currently yields 19.70% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 193 holdings in GUT and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 112.8% and 90.6% of the two funds. Neither is a share of a fund we can divide by, so no overlap percentage is shown here. Within what we can see, 97 positions appear in both.
The two holdings books were reported 91 days apart, GUT as of Mar 31, 2026 and VTI as of Jun 30, 2026, so some of the difference between them is the time between the two reports rather than the funds.
97 positions in common, counted across the 193 positions we hold weights for in GUT and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 204 and 3,543.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in GUT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEENextera Energy Inc. | 5.28% | 0.25% | 5.03% |
| OKEOneok Inc. | 4.29% | 0.08% | 4.21% |
| WECWec Energy Group Inc. | 4.20% | 0.05% | 4.15% |
| XELXcel Energy Inc. | 3.56% | 0.07% | 3.49% |
| SWXSouthwest Gas Corp. | 3.51% | 0.00% | 3.51% |
| EVRGEvergy Inc. | 3.43% | 0.03% | 3.40% |
| NFGNational Fuel Gas Co | 3.05% | 0.01% | 3.04% |
| DUKDuke Energy Corp. | 2.90% | 0.14% | 2.76% |
| ESEversource Energy | 2.49% | 0.04% | 2.45% |
| AEPAmerican Electric Power Co Inc | 2.09% | 0.10% | 1.99% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of GUT 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, GUT or VTI?
GUT has an expense ratio of 2.06% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $203 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, GUT or VTI?
Over the past year GUT returned +20.70% vs +17.34% for VTI, so GUT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (25 years), GUT annualized +0.73% vs +8.01% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, GUT or VTI?
GUT has been the more volatile fund at 20.1% annualized versus 15.3% for VTI. Worst drawdown: GUT -57.6% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both GUT and VTI?
GUT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.45, 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, GUT or VTI?
GUT yields 19.70% while VTI yields 1.03%, so GUT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than GUT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. GUT led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.