IQM vs VTI

IQM vs VTI

Which is better, IQM or VTI?

Large Cap Growth against Large Cap Blend.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. IQM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.8%.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: IQMLess Concentrated: 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

MetricIQMVTI
Expense Ratio0.50%0.03%Best
AUM$89M$690.1B
Dividend Yield0.00%1.03%
Holdings833,524
YTD Return+28.62%Best+13.35%
1Y Return+29.00%Best+15.92%
3Y Return (annualized)+38.38%Best+23.41%
5Y Return (annualized)+19.44%Best+12.83%
Volatility (annualized)28.3%17.1%Best
Max Drawdown-44.9%-29.5%Best
$10,000 over 5 years$24,308Best$18,286
Top 10 Weight43.8%33.3%Best
Fund FamilyFranklin Templeton Investments (US)Vanguard (US)
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap GrowthLarge Cap Blend
InceptionFeb 25, 2020May 24, 2001

Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Feb 27, 2020 to Oct 2, 2026 (6.6 years).

IQM 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 6.6 years both funds cover.

IQM vs VTI Performance

Franklin Intelligent Machines ETF (IQM) is an ETF from Franklin Templeton Investments (US) and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IQM returned +29.00% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, IQM is up 28.62% versus a gain of 13.35% for VTI.

Over three years, IQM compounded at +38.38% per year against +23.41% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +19.44% and +12.83% respectively. Across the full 7-year window we track, IQM has the edge at +26.54% annualized vs +16.26%.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

IQM has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 28.3% compared with 17.1% 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 -44.9% for IQM and -29.5% 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 0.86. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.

Fees and Cost Over Time

IQM 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, IQM currently yields 0.00% against 1.03% for VTI.

Holdings Overlap

IQM already in VTI74.7%
VTI already in IQM26.2%

74.7% of IQM's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 26.2% of VTI's money is in holdings IQM also owns.

Most of IQM is already inside VTI. Owning both mostly buys the same companies twice.

The two holdings books were reported 46 days apart, IQM as of Sep 15, 2026 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.

58 positions in common, counted across the 81 positions we hold weights for in IQM and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 83 and 3,524.

What only one of them owns

Our book lists 1,097 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for IQM (71.4% of the fund), and 1 for IQM that do not appear in VTI (0.8%).

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

StockWeight in IQMWeight in VTIDifference
NVDANvidia Corp7.89%6.40%1.49%
AAPLApple, Inc4.00%6.29%2.29%
AVGOBroadcom Inc4.24%2.56%1.68%
SNDKSandisk Corp/De4.54%0.25%4.29%
GOOGLAlphabet Inc,class A1.14%2.90%1.76%
BECfd Bloom Energy Corp- A3.77%0.08%3.69%
GEVGE Vernova Inc. CDR (CAD Hedged)3.19%0.37%2.82%
AMDAdvanced Micro Devices Inc2.34%1.08%1.26%
TSLATesla Inc1.98%1.22%0.76%
ANETArista Networks Inc Common Stock2.72%0.27%2.45%

74.7% of IQM 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.

IQMVTI

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, IQM or VTI?

IQM 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, IQM or VTI?

Over the past year IQM returned +29.00% vs +15.92% for VTI, so IQM leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (7 years), IQM annualized +26.54% vs +16.26% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, IQM or VTI?

IQM has been the more volatile fund at 28.3% annualized versus 17.1% for VTI. Worst drawdown: IQM -44.9% vs VTI -29.5%.

Should I hold both IQM and VTI?

IQM and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.86, 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 IQM and VTI?

74.7% of IQM's money is in holdings VTI also owns. 26.2% of VTI's is in holdings IQM also owns. They hold 58 positions in common, counted across the 81 positions we hold weights for in IQM and 3,463 in VTI.

Which pays a higher dividend, IQM or VTI?

IQM yields 0.00% while VTI yields 1.03%, so VTI currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is VTI better than IQM?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. IQM led over 1Y, 3Y, 5Y and the full window. VTI is less concentrated, with 33.3% of the fund in its ten largest positions against 43.8%. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.