ILTB vs VTI

ILTB vs VTI

Which is better, ILTB or VTI?

Long Term Bond against Large Cap Blend.

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

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTI

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

MetricILTBVTI
Expense Ratio0.06%0.03%Best
AUM$589M$666.9B
Dividend Yield5.11%1.03%
Holdings3,8663,543
YTD Return-3.79%+13.14%Best
1Y Return-4.12%+16.63%Best
3Y Return (annualized)+3.84%+22.30%Best
5Y Return (annualized)-4.70%+12.01%Best
Volatility (annualized)10.5%Best14.8%
Max Drawdown-38.0%-35.0%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$7,861$17,631Best
Fund FamilyiShares by BlackRock (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryFixed IncomeEquity
StyleLong Term BondLarge Cap Blend
InceptionDec 8, 2009May 24, 2001

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 9, 2009 to Sep 23, 2026 (16.8 years).

ILTB 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.

ILTB vs VTI Performance

iShares Core 10+ Year USD Bond ETF (ILTB) 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 ILTB returned -4.12% while VTI returned +16.63%. Year to date, ILTB is down 3.79% versus a gain of 13.14% for VTI.

Over three years, ILTB compounded at +3.84% per year against +22.30% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are -4.70% and +12.01% respectively. Across the full 17-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.63% annualized vs +0.88%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

VTI has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 14.8% compared with 10.5% for ILTB. 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 -38.0% for ILTB 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 0.22. They move largely independently of each other.

Fees and Cost Over Time

ILTB charges 0.06% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $6 vs $3 annually, a gap of $3 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ILTB currently yields 5.11% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

VTI already in ILTB0.2%

At least 0.2% of VTI's money is in holdings ILTB also owns.

Stated as a floor: for ILTB, our book for it covers 58.5% of that fund, so a holding it does not list is one we cannot count as shared. The real figure is this or higher.

We cannot see either book well enough to say how much of this pair is duplicated.

3 positions in common, counted across the 1,063 positions we hold weights for in ILTB and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 3,866 and 3,543.

Top Shared Holdings

StockWeight in ILTBWeight in VTIDifference
ETREntergy Louisiana Llc0.01%0.07%0.06%
WECWec Energy Group Inc.0.01%0.05%0.04%
ADMArcher Daniels Midland C Sr Unsecured 04/43 4.0160.00%0.05%0.05%

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

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

ILTBVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, ILTB or VTI?

ILTB has an expense ratio of 0.06% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $3 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, ILTB or VTI?

Over the past year ILTB returned -4.12% vs +16.63% for VTI, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (17 years), ILTB annualized +0.88% vs +12.63% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, ILTB or VTI?

VTI has been the more volatile fund at 14.8% annualized versus 10.5% for ILTB. Worst drawdown: ILTB -38.0% vs VTI -35.0%.

Should I hold both ILTB and VTI?

ILTB and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.22, 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, ILTB or VTI?

ILTB yields 5.11% while VTI yields 1.03%, so ILTB currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than ILTB?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.