ILOW vs VTI
AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ILOW or VTI?
VTI has been ahead.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. ILOW is less concentrated, with 21.2% 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 | ILOW | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.50% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $1.9B | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 1.45% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 102 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +7.99% | +11.06%Best |
| 1Y Return | +10.06% | +15.41%Best |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +20.48% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +11.52% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 10.1%Best | 12.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -10.4%Best | -19.3% |
| $10,000 over 2.2 years | $13,668 | $13,801Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 21.2%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | AllianceBernstein L.P. | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Blend | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Jul 15, 2024 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 2.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 15, 2024 to Sep 16, 2026 (2.2 years).
ILOW 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 2.2 years both funds cover.
ILOW vs VTI Performance
AB International Low Volatility Equity ETF (ILOW) is an ETF from AllianceBernstein L.P. and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year ILOW returned +10.06% while VTI returned +15.41%. Year to date, ILOW is up 7.99% versus a gain of 11.06% for VTI.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 12.6% compared with 10.1% for ILOW. 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 -10.4% for ILOW and -19.3% 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
ILOW charges 0.50% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $50 vs $3 annually, a gap of $47 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ILOW currently yields 1.45% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
1.1% of ILOW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.5% of VTI's money is in holdings ILOW also owns.
ILOW and VTI share little of their money.
2 positions in common, counted across the 85 positions we hold weights for in ILOW and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 102 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 ILOW (97.0% of the fund), and 3 for ILOW that do not appear in VTI (3.6%).
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 ILOW 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, ILOW or VTI?
ILOW has an expense ratio of 0.50% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $47 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ILOW or VTI?
Over the past year ILOW returned +10.06% vs +15.41% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ILOW annualized +15.26% vs +15.77% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ILOW or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 12.6% annualized versus 10.1% for ILOW. Worst drawdown: ILOW -10.4% vs VTI -19.3%.
Should I hold both ILOW and VTI?
ILOW 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.
What is the holdings overlap between ILOW and VTI?
1.1% of ILOW's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 0.5% of VTI's is in holdings ILOW also owns. They hold 2 positions in common, counted across the 85 positions we hold weights for in ILOW and 3,463 in VTI.
Which pays a higher dividend, ILOW or VTI?
ILOW yields 1.45% while VTI yields 1.03%, so ILOW currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ILOW?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. ILOW is less concentrated, with 21.2% 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.