ISMF vs VTI
iShares Managed Futures Active ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, ISMF or VTI?
Managed Futures against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ISMF led over 1Y, VTI over the full window.
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 | ISMF | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.80% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $59M | $690.1B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.55% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 177 | 3,524 |
| YTD Return | +8.97% | +13.35%Best |
| 1Y Return | +16.16%Best | +15.92% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | - | +23.41% |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | - | +12.83% |
| Volatility (annualized) | 5.9%Best | 11.6% |
| Max Drawdown | -4.2%Best | -14.0% |
| $10,000 over 1.6 years | $12,348 | $14,375Best |
| Fund Family | iShares by BlackRock (US) | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Alternative | Equity |
| Style | Managed Futures | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Mar 12, 2025 | May 24, 2001 |
Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.
Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.6 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Mar 13, 2025 to Oct 2, 2026 (1.6 years).
ISMF 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 1.6 years both funds cover.
ISMF vs VTI Performance
iShares Managed Futures Active ETF (ISMF) 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 ISMF returned +16.16% while VTI returned +15.92%. Year to date, ISMF is up 8.97% versus a gain of 13.35% 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 11.6% compared with 5.9% for ISMF. 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 -4.2% for ISMF and -14.0% 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 0.36. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.
Fees and Cost Over Time
ISMF charges 0.80% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $80 vs $3 annually, a gap of $77 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, ISMF currently yields 2.55% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 1 holding in ISMF and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 0.4% and 98.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.
0 positions in common, counted across the 1 positions we hold weights for in ISMF and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 177 and 3,524.
You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.
Whichever of ISMF 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, ISMF or VTI?
ISMF has an expense ratio of 0.80% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $77 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, ISMF or VTI?
Over the past year ISMF returned +16.16% vs +15.92% for VTI, so ISMF leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (2 years), ISMF annualized +14.09% vs +25.46% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, ISMF or VTI?
VTI has been the more volatile fund at 11.6% annualized versus 5.9% for ISMF. Worst drawdown: ISMF -4.2% vs VTI -14.0%.
Should I hold both ISMF and VTI?
ISMF and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.36, 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, ISMF or VTI?
ISMF yields 2.55% while VTI yields 1.03%, so ISMF currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than ISMF?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. ISMF led over 1Y, VTI over the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.