ICVT vs VTI

ICVT vs VTI

Which is better, ICVT or VTI?

Convertibles against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. ICVT led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: split

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

MetricICVTVTI
Expense Ratio0.20%0.03%Best
AUM$7.8B$666.9B
Dividend Yield1.39%1.07%
Holdings3773,543
YTD Return+14.00%Best+13.95%
1Y Return+21.57%Best+21.44%
3Y Return (annualized)+16.58%+21.10%Best
5Y Return (annualized)+4.97%+11.77%Best
Volatility (annualized)14.6%Best15.6%
Max Drawdown-33.3%Best-35.0%
$10,000 over 5 years$12,745$17,443Best
Fund FamilyiShares by BlackRock (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryConvertibleEquity
StyleConvertiblesLarge Cap Blend
InceptionJun 2, 2015May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Jun 4, 2015 to Sep 3, 2026 (11.2 years).

ICVT 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 11.2 years both funds cover.

ICVT vs VTI Performance

iShares Convertible Bond ETF (ICVT) is an ETF from iShares by BlackRock (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ICVT returned +21.57% while VTI returned +21.44%. Year to date, ICVT is up 14.00% versus a gain of 13.95% for VTI.

Over three years, ICVT compounded at +16.58% per year against +21.10% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +4.97% and +11.77% respectively. Across the full 11-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.53% annualized vs +10.94%.

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 14.6% for ICVT. 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 -33.3% for ICVT 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 0.83. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

ICVT charges 0.20% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $20 vs $3 annually, a gap of $17 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ICVT currently yields 1.39% against 1.07% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 128 holdings in ICVT and 2,787 in VTI, totalling 36.8% and 92.3% 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, 2 positions appear in both.

2 positions in common, counted across the 128 positions we hold weights for in ICVT and 2,787 in VTI, against full books of 377 and 3,543.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in ICVTWeight in VTIDifference
JAZZJazz Investments I Ltd Company Guar 09/30 3.1250.52%0.02%0.50%
BKDBrookdale Senior Living Inc0.14%0.00%0.14%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

ICVTVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, ICVT or VTI?

ICVT has an expense ratio of 0.20% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $17 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, ICVT or VTI?

Over the past year ICVT returned +21.57% vs +21.44% for VTI, so ICVT leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (11 years), ICVT annualized +10.94% vs +12.53% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, ICVT or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 15.6% annualized versus 14.6% for ICVT. Worst drawdown: ICVT -33.3% vs VTI -35.0%.

Should I hold both ICVT and VTI?

ICVT and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.83, 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, ICVT or VTI?

ICVT yields 1.39% while VTI yields 1.07%, so ICVT currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than ICVT?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. ICVT 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.