IVAL vs VTI
Alpha Architect International Quantitative Value ETF vs Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF
Which is better, IVAL or VTI?
Large Cap Value against Large Cap Blend.
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IVAL led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVAL is less concentrated, with 20.4% 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 | IVAL | VTI |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Ratio | 0.38% | 0.03%Best |
| AUM | $228M | $666.9B |
| Dividend Yield | 2.54% | 1.03% |
| Holdings | 55 | 3,543 |
| YTD Return | +19.86%Best | +12.28% |
| 1Y Return | +25.25%Best | +16.78% |
| 3Y Return (annualized) | +19.37% | +20.89%Best |
| 5Y Return (annualized) | +11.12% | +11.94%Best |
| Volatility (annualized) | 17.3% | 15.4%Best |
| Max Drawdown | -49.2% | -35.0%Best |
| $10,000 over 5 years | $16,942 | $17,576Best |
| Top 10 Weight | 20.4%Best | 33.3% |
| Fund Family | Alpha Architect | Vanguard (US) |
| Category | Equity | Equity |
| Style | Large Cap Value | Large Cap Blend |
| Inception | Dec 16, 2014 | May 24, 2001 |
Volatility and max drawdown are measured over the window both funds cover: Dec 17, 2014 to Sep 17, 2026 (11.8 years).
IVAL 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 11.8 years both funds cover.
IVAL vs VTI Performance
Alpha Architect International Quantitative Value ETF (IVAL) is an ETF from Alpha Architect and Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US). Over the past year IVAL returned +25.25% while VTI returned +16.78%. Year to date, IVAL is up 19.86% versus a gain of 12.28% for VTI.
Over three years, IVAL compounded at +19.37% per year against +20.89% for VTI; over five years the annualized figures are +11.12% and +11.94% respectively. Across the full 12-year window we track, VTI has the edge at +12.27% annualized vs +5.62%.
Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns
IVAL has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 17.3% compared with 15.4% 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 -49.2% for IVAL 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 0.75. They usually move together, but the gap leaves some room for diversification.
Fees and Cost Over Time
IVAL charges 0.38% per year while VTI charges 0.03%. On a $10,000 position that is $38 vs $3 annually, a gap of $35 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, IVAL currently yields 2.54% against 1.03% for VTI.
Holdings Overlap
We hold position weights for 65 holdings in IVAL and 3,463 in VTI, totalling 100.0% 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 65 positions we hold weights for in IVAL and 3,463 in VTI, against full books of 55 and 3,543.
What only one of them owns
Our book lists 1,150 positions for VTI that do not appear in our book for IVAL (97.5% of the fund), and 0 for IVAL that do not appear in VTI (0.0%).
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 IVAL 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, IVAL or VTI?
IVAL has an expense ratio of 0.38% while VTI charges 0.03%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $35 a year on a $10,000 investment.
Which performed better, IVAL or VTI?
Over the past year IVAL returned +25.25% vs +16.78% for VTI, so IVAL leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (12 years), IVAL annualized +5.62% vs +12.27% for VTI. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.
Which is riskier, IVAL or VTI?
IVAL has been the more volatile fund at 17.3% annualized versus 15.4% for VTI. Worst drawdown: IVAL -49.2% vs VTI -35.0%.
Should I hold both IVAL and VTI?
IVAL and VTI have a monthly-return correlation of 0.75, 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, IVAL or VTI?
IVAL yields 2.54% while VTI yields 1.03%, so IVAL currently pays the higher dividend yield.
Is VTI better than IVAL?
VTI has a lower expense ratio. IVAL led over 1Y, VTI over 3Y, 5Y and the full window. IVAL is less concentrated, with 20.4% 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.