IDEF vs VTI
iShares Defense Industrials and Tech Active ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, IDEF or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.3%.
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 | IDEF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.55% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $3.8B | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 0.32% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 163 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +0.31% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | -0.80% | +15.92%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 20.4% | 11.5%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -15.8% | -8.9%Best |
| $10,000 over 1.4 years | $12,753 | $13,507Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 35.3% | 33.3%Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | May 19, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.4 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: May 21, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.4 years).
IDEF 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 1.4 years both funds cover.
IDEF vs VTI Performance
iShares Defense Industrials and Tech Active ETF (IDEF) 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 IDEF returned -0.80% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, IDEF is up 0.31% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IDEF has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 20.4% compared with 11.5% 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 -15.8% for IDEF and -8.9% 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 0.49. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IDEF charges 0.55% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $55 vs $3 annually, a gap of $52 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IDEF currently yields 0.32% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
46.2% of IDEF's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.9% of VTI's money is in holdings IDEF also owns.
The two portfolios partly overlap.
79 positions in common, counted across the 142 positions we hold weights for in IDEF and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 163 and 3,524.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,092 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for IDEF (93.5% of the fund), and 2 for IDEF that do not appear in VTI (5.3%).
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 IDEF | Weight in VTI | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLTRPalantir Technologies Inc | 4.74% | 0.37% | 4.37% |
| LMTLockheed Martin Corp | 3.57% | 0.19% | 3.38% |
| BABoeing Co | 3.40% | 0.24% | 3.16% |
| GDGeneral Dynamics Corp. | 2.98% | 0.14% | 2.84% |
| NOCNorthrop Grumman Corp. | 2.55% | 0.11% | 2.44% |
| GEGeneral Electric Co. | 1.89% | 0.52% | 1.37% |
| PANWPalo Alto Networks, Inc | 1.51% | 0.38% | 1.13% |
| APHAmphenol Corp. Class A | 1.38% | 0.27% | 1.11% |
| CRWDCrowdstrike Holdings Inc | 1.20% | 0.26% | 0.94% |
| TDGTransdigm Group Inc. | 1.06% | 0.10% | 0.96% |
46.2% of IDEF is already inside VTI.
You probably hold more than these two. Add the rest and see how much of the whole book is the same companies twice.
Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper, IDEF or VTI?
IDEF has an expense ratio of 0.55% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $52 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IDEF or VTI?
Over the past year IDEF returned -0.80% vs +15.92% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), IDEF annualized +18.97% vs +23.95% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IDEF or VTI?
IDEF has been the more volatile fund at 20.4% annualized versus 11.5% for VTI. Worst drawdown: IDEF -15.8% vs VTI -8.9%.
Should I hold both IDEF and VTI?
IDEF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.49, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.
What is the holdings overlap between IDEF and VTI?
46.2% of IDEF's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 3.9% of VTI's is in holdings IDEF also owns. They hold 79 positions in common, counted across the 142 positions we hold weights for in IDEF and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, IDEF or VTI?
IDEF yields 0.32% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than IDEF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 35.3%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.