HYT vs VTI
Blackrock Corporate High Yield Fund Inc. vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, HYT or VTI?
High Yield Bond against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. HYT is less concentrated, with 10.2% 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 | HYT | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 3.35% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.8B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 10.26% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 1,211 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | -1.98% | +12.08%Best |
| 1Y Return | -7.23% | +16.31%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +6.22% | +20.83%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +1.05% | +11.89%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 14.0%Best | 14.9% |
| Max Drawdown | -67.6% | -56.6%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $10,536 | $17,537Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 10.2%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | BlackRock, Inc. (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Fixed Income | Equity |
| Style | High Yield Bond | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 30, 2003 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: May 28, 2003 to Sep 14, 2026 (23.3 years).
HYT 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.
HYT vs VTI Performance
Blackrock Corporate High Yield Fund Inc. (HYT) is an ETF from BlackRock, Inc. (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year HYT returned -7.23% while VTI returned +16.31%. Year to date, HYT is down 1.98% versus a gain of 12.08% for VTI.
Over three years, HYT compounded at +6.22% per year against +20.83% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +1.05% and +11.89% respectively. Across the full 23-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +9.88% annualized vs -0.35%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.9% compared with 14.0% for HYT. 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 -67.6% for HYT 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 0.72. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
HYT charges 3.35% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $335 vs $3 annually, a gap of $332 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, HYT currently yields 10.26% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
0.9% of HYT's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.4% of VTI's money is in holdings HYT also owns.
We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.
The two holdings books were reported 212 days apart, HYT as of Dec 31, 2025 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.
7 positions in common, counted across the 717 positions we hold weights for in HYT and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 1,211 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,144 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for HYT (97.0% of the fund), and 697 for HYT that do not appear in VTI (96.5%).
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.
Top Shared Holdings
| Stock | Weight in HYT | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| LNTAlliant Energy Corp. | 0.41% | 0.03% | 0.38% |
| CCitigroup Inc 6.875 11/73 6.88 2173-11-15 | 0.07% | 0.30% | 0.23% |
| VICIVici Properties Inc | 0.27% | 0.04% | 0.23% |
| MCHPMicrochip Technology Inc. | 0.12% | 0.06% | 0.06% |
| VSNTVersant Media Group Inc-Wi | 0.04% | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| NINENine Energy Service, Inc. | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| SPWRSunpower Corporation | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% |
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of HYT 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, HYT or VTI?
HYT has an expense ratio of 3.35% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $332 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, HYT or VTI?
Over the past year HYT returned -7.23% vs +16.31% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (23 years), HYT annualized -0.35% vs +9.88% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, HYT or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.9% annualized versus 14.0% for HYT. Worst drawdown: HYT -67.6% vs VTI -56.6%.
Should I hold both HYT and VTI?
HYT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.72, 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, HYT or VTI?
HYT yields 10.26% while VTI yields 1.03%, so HYT currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than HYT?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. HYT is less concentrated, with 10.2% 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.